A BEDTIME FOR BEAR by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton Candlewick, September 14, 2010 Picture Book Grades Preschool-2

When the impish Mouse comes to spend the night, Bear is in for a rude — and very funny — awakening in this irresistible new story starring the unlikely pair.

Bear must have absolute quiet when he goes to bed. He likes to set out his glass of water, adjust his nightcap, fluff his favorite pillow, and then drift peacefully to sleep. But the effervescent Mouse, small and gray and bright-eyed, finds it terribly hard to be as quiet as a . . . well, you know. With masterfully paced slapstick humor, droll repartee, and comic visual details, the curmudgeonly Bear and his irrepressible friend Mouse return in a third wry adventure that will have readers of all ages laughing in recognition.

Reviews

Amazon Best of the Month, September 2010: When Mouse comes to spend the night, Bear isn't sure he will like having his bedtime routine disturbed by an overnight guest. How will he ever sleep without absolute quiet? A Bedtime for Bear brings Bear and Mouse (A Visitor for Bear) together again, and first time readers of Bonny Becker's delightful duo are in for a treat. Bear reminds Mouse of his need for quiet, but carefree Mouse continues to disturb him with teeth brushing, humming, and resounding good nights. When Bear hears a noise in the night, he's awfully glad his friend Mouse is there to look under Bear's bed, behind the curtains, and in the closet. A heartwarming story of friendship and new experiences, A Bedtime for Bear is sure to become a bedtime favorite.--Seira Wilson Publishers Weekly

Bear and Mouse return to prove that friends may not be perfect, but they're there when it matters most. Bear can't stand noise at bedtime, so he isn't pleased when Mouse turns up to spend the night. Mouse's humming, squeaking, and whispers of "Good night!" make Bear lose his patience, but when the house at last falls silent, Bear discovers that having everything just so is less important than having a friend when nighttime sounds turn scary. Denton's ink and watercolor illustrations ably express the dry humor of Becker's dialogue and personifications, which make this a bedtime standout. Ages 5-7. (Sept.)

School Library Journal

Gr 1—Bear and Mouse are back and charming as ever. Bear needs everything just so and perfectly quiet at night, so when his friend shows up for a sleepover, he is wary. All goes well until Mouse's noises disturb him. Then Mouse falls asleep, and Bear hears something. Awakened by his worried friend, Mouse goes along with his host's premise that it was he who was frightened and checks under the bed, etc., finally settling in for a bedtime story. Ultimately both fall asleep together. In a perfect marriage of illustrations and text, Becker and Denton portray Bear as skeptical, then irritated, and, finally, nervous. Unflappable Mouse, with his satisfied smile, is a perfect foil. With lines like, "'I am here to spend the night!' exclaimed Mouse with a happy wiggle of his whiskers," and "'You'll want a bedtime story, I expect,' said Bear. 'For your nerves,'" Becker's clever text imbues the characters with personality and the story with humor. Denton's watercolor, ink, and gouache artwork brings them to life. With just a few lines, illustrations take Bear from annoyed to frightened and Mouse from sleepy to awake. In a combination of full-bleed spreads, full pages, and spot art, they draw readers through the story. For children who are frightened at night, trying to navigate the world of friendships, or facing new experiences, Bear and Mouse are the perfect companions.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

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