Don't Wake Up the Bear!
PreSchool-Grade 2-On a winter's eve, as a bear sleeps in his cozy cave, a cold-eared hare creeps in to snuggle in his soft fur. Several animals join her to warm up various extremities. Each time she warns, "-don't wake up the bear!" A mouse is the last to arrive, curling up in his ear. However she develops the sniffles and lets loose a loud sneeze. The lumbering creature wakes up and growls and the animals scatter. The bear merely trudges off and snacks on some berries. Murray's tale is written in clear language and repetitive refrains. Wittmann's large watercolors adeptly depict the frigid landscape as oversized snowflakes float in and around the text. The animals are naturalistically rendered and have slightly humanized facial expressions. While this story is not highly original, its reassuringly predictable suspense and satisfying ending make for a fun winter read-aloud.Rachel G. Payne, New York Public LibraryCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.