On a cold windy night, an itty-bitty mouse "pitter-pat, tip-toe, creep-crawls" into a sleeping bear's cozy lair, looking for relief from the bitter winter weather. Soon he is joined by a veritable menagerie of woodland animals, and the party begins. Popping corn, brewing tea, tweeting, and chatting, the critters enjoy themselves thoroughly while the bear slumbers through it all. Until, that is, an errant pepper flake from the simmering stew wakes him up with a giant sneeze. As the bear goes from ferocious snarls and rumbles to pitiful whimpers, his uninvited guests realize what the problem is. You've snuck in my lair
and you've all had fun!
But me? I was sleeping
and...
I have had none!
Not to worry. Mouse knows just what to do.

First-time author Karma Wilson and artist Jane Chapman (illustrator of Phyllis Root's One Duck Stuck) have created a charming little tale of sharing and caring that will have readers of all ages cheering at the humorous finale. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter


From Publishers Weekly
The title also serves as the book's refrain: because he's hibernating, the fluffy, snoring Bear remains oblivious as Mouse, Hare, Badger, Mole, Wren and Raven seek refuge in his cave from the blowing snow and frigid temperatures. Working in soft-textured acrylics, Chapman (Happy and Honey) makes both the biting weather and the warm, womb-like shelter of Bear's cave palpable. The once bedraggled animals perk up considerably, and first-time author Wilson describes the ensuing high spirits with a musical flair: "They tweet and they titter./ They chat and they chitter./ But the bear snores on." There's a moment of tension when Bear unexpectedly wakes up and the uninvited guests wonder if they'll be evicted. But Wilson demonstrates how well she knows her audience: the bear only bemoans the fact that he slept through all the fun; the unwitting host proves that he may be the biggest party animal of all. Ages 3-7. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
reS-Gr 3-Wilson has crafted a story that is just right for chilly winter nights. Snow is falling and Bear is sound asleep in his warm, dark cave. Trying to escape the weather, Mouse crawls inside and builds a fire. Seeing the crackling blaze, Hare hops in to share some popcorn and black tea. One by one, other woodland creatures join the impromptu party, each bringing a contribution. Through it all "-the bear snores on" until, finally, a small fleck of pepper makes him sneeze. Once he is awake, his gruff reaction to the merrymaking is not exactly welcoming, but he quickly comes around. The cadence of the narrative is infectious: "And they nibble and they munch with a/CHEW-/CHOMP-/CRUNCH!/But/the bear/snores on." The layout, with unusual breaks and oversized verbs, emphasizes the rhythm of the story. The characters are infused with warmth and humor. Though anthropomorphic, they retain their realism, due in part to the detail with which they are rendered. The warm, soft tones of these acrylic illustrations perfectly capture the coziness of Bear's lair and capture the action. The descriptive rhyming text, reminiscent of Bill Martin, Jr.'s Listen to the Rain (Holt, 1988), is perfect for reading aloud as well as for one-on-one sharing. Kids will ask for this book again and again.Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, ALCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Ages 3-6. "In a cave in the woods, in his deep, dark lair, through the long, cold winter sleeps a great brown bear." To the rhythm of such fetching verses, a tiny mouse seeks shelter in a bear's snug cave. A hare soon follows, and the two quietly pop corn and brew tea as "bear snores on." Then a badger arrives with crunchy nuts to share, followed by a gopher, a mole, a wren, and a raven. Bear's den is full and noisy (as indicated by the large, bold type), but bear still "snores on." Then a fleck of pepper for the stew mouse is seasoning makes Bear sneeze, and he awakens to the revelers in his cave. Happy for the company and the food they have prepared, he stays up all night telling stories. In the morning, it's Bear who is awake; everyone else is fast asleep and snoring. The comfy look of Bear's cave and the snappy rhythm of the text beckon youngsters into the story, and the expressively drawn, amusingly posed animal characters ensure repeated readings. Ellen Mandel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear's cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on! See what happens when he finally wakes up and finds his cave full of uninvited guests -- all of them having a party without him!


Card catalog description
On a cold winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleeping bear, who then awakes and protests that he has missed the food and the fun.


About the Author
Karma Wilson lives with her family in America. Bear Snores On is her first book.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
A sleeping bear, a blustery winter, and a handful of sweet woodland animals make this delightful picture book a welcome offering from first-time author Karma Wilson. Using rhyming text to create an inspired read-aloud, Wilson shows us how one bear snores on...

Set in a dark cave, away from the cold, snowy winter, a bear sleeps. Nothing awakes the sleeping beast, not even an unexpected visitor -- a small mouse. Looking for refuge from the cold, he makes a tiny fire with a small stick. A hare pops in to see his old friend mouse, who offers him some tea and popcorn. But the corn poppin' and the tea a-brewin' do not wake this hibernating bear. When a badger drops by and the three chomp happily on honey nuts, the bear snores on. More friends arrive, and soon it is a boisterous gathering with chitter-chatter and dancing. When the mouse and hare prepare a stew over the fire for their friends, they season it with dash of pepper. A stray pepper flake flies thru the air and the bear sneezes -- "Raaaaa-choooooo!!!!" Awake, he growls and snarls as the others begin to run. What will the beastly bear do? He cries: You've snuck in my lair
and you've all had fun!
But me? I was sleeping
and...
I have had none! Mouse quickly offers to brew more tea and pop more corn. The party is on! They tell tall tales into the night, and by morning Bear is wide awake...as his friends snore on.

We think this lovely tale couldn't be any sweeter. Flowing text, filled with perfect rhythm and humor, match wonderfully with the gorgeous and warm acrylic illustrations. The bear's warm cave with an orange glow is a cozy treasure in the middle of a snowy white forest. The woodland animals are bright-eyed and adorable, with just the right details -- smiling faces and the right balance of colorful strokes and realistic flair. Bear is as snuggly as can be, and the final scene will warm the hearts of every reader. A splendid offering from the team of Wilson and Chapman that is sure to be read again and again. (Amy Barkat)

ANNOTATION

On a cold winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleeping bear, who then awakes and protests that he has missed the food and the fun.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

On a cold winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleeping bear, who then awakes and protests that he has missed the food and the fun.

FROM THE CRITICS

Book Magazine

Newcomer Karma Wilson has succeeded in the surprisingly difficult task of writing a children's book effectively in rhyme. For her tale about a sleeping bear, she hones short verses that dance the reader along, only slowing the pace to repeat the phrase, "But the bear snores on." As the bear sleeps, smaller animals take refuge in his lair from a snowstorm and start partying. But what will happen when the bear wakes up? Large acrylic paintings create a cast of personable animals, including the bear, who turns out to be a hospitable host.

Publishers Weekly

The title also serves as the book's refrain: because he's hibernating, the fluffy, snoring Bear remains oblivious as Mouse, Hare, Badger, Mole, Wren and Raven seek refuge in his cave from the blowing snow and frigid temperatures. Working in soft-textured acrylics, Chapman (Happy and Honey) makes both the biting weather and the warm, womb-like shelter of Bear's cave palpable. The once bedraggled animals perk up considerably, and first-time author Wilson describes the ensuing high spirits with a musical flair: "They tweet and they titter./ They chat and they chitter./ But the bear snores on." There's a moment of tension when Bear unexpectedly wakes up and the uninvited guests wonder if they'll be evicted. But Wilson demonstrates how well she knows her audience: the bear only bemoans the fact that he slept through all the fun; the unwitting host proves that he may be the biggest party animal of all. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Karma Wilson has added a delightful cumulative tale to the list of rhythmically readable favorites in this traditional genre. One small forest animal after another crawls into bear's wintry cave, samples a snack and joins the party as "Bear snores on." Eventually, Bear wakes up. He "gnarls and he snarls, roars and rumbles" and finds that he has missed the party. The uninvited guests share the goodies and the fun and, eventually, Bear is the only one awake as the early partygoers "snore on." Younger children will respond to the predictable, comfortable plot and engaging animals, while slightly older children will enjoy the word play of sounds and rhymes. Jane Chapman's cheerful illustrations keep the focus on the simplicity of the tale and the contrast between the snowy winter outside and the warm camaraderie inside. This is a cozy, appealing snuggle of a read-aloud, just right for bedtime, lap time or anytime. 2002, Margaret K. McElderry Books, $16.00. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Anne Field

School Library Journal

Wilson has crafted a story that is just right for chilly winter nights. Snow is falling and Bear is sound asleep in his warm, dark cave. Trying to escape the weather, Mouse crawls inside and builds a fire. Seeing the crackling blaze, Hare hops in to share some popcorn and black tea. One by one, other woodland creatures join the impromptu party, each bringing a contribution. Through it all "-the bear snores on" until, finally, a small fleck of pepper makes him sneeze. Once he is awake, his gruff reaction to the merrymaking is not exactly welcoming, but he quickly comes around. The cadence of the narrative is infectious: "And they nibble and they munch with a/CHEW-/CHOMP-/CRUNCH!/But/the bear/snores on." The layout, with unusual breaks and oversized verbs, emphasizes the rhythm of the story. The characters are infused with warmth and humor. Though anthropomorphic, they retain their realism, due in part to the detail with which they are rendered. The warm, soft tones of these acrylic illustrations perfectly capture the coziness of Bear's lair and capture the action. The descriptive rhyming text, reminiscent of Bill Martin, Jr.'s Listen to the Rain (Holt, 1988), is perfect for reading aloud as well as for one-on-one sharing. Kids will ask for this book again and again.-Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, AL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews