Brown Bear Can't Sleep

by Yijun Cai

Overview

It is the coldest day of winter, and most of the animals have gone to bed. But Brown Bear can't fall asleep. He wants to go outside, but he needs a disguise so the cold-loving animals won't recognise and ridicule him. But to look like a polar bear, he needs lots and lots of white wool. And for lots of wool, Brown Bear needs lots and lots of sheep. So, Brown Bear starts calculating how many sheep he will need... Will his sweater plan succeed?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781760361495
Publisher:	Starfish Bay Publishing
Publication date:	09/05/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.62(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Yijun Cai, from Hangzhou, China, is a freelance illustrator and recipient of the Golden Dragon Award at the Original Animation & Comic Competition. She often draws her inspiration from curious thoughts. One winter night, she wondered, “When humans can't sleep, we try all sorts of methods to make ourselves fall asleep. What about bears?” And that is how Brown Bear Can’t Sleep was born. 

Editorial Reviews

“The artwork features stylized animals with shades of brown and blue predominating. Those in search of current titles from China may wish to consider adding this title as representative.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2018-02-03
The familiar picture-book story arc of a bear who cannot fall asleep in the winter is given comparable treatment in this import from China via New Zealand.The titular brown bear lies abed quite grumpily. Winter is boring, and, in addition, this bear does not like the cold. He is resourceful, though, and he consults reference material, where he finds the solution to his difficulties. Polar bears, he learns, have "thick white fur," which he can replicate by knitting a sweater—a very big sweater. Sheep have the wool for this sweater, and after much calculation, measurement, diagramming, and washing, Brown Bear is ready to proceed. But first he must count the sheep to be sure he has the right quantity, and another familiar trope enters the story. Knowledgeable listeners know what follows when bears (and children) start counting sheep: sleep. The sheep turn off the lights and wish the bear a goodnight. The tale is mildly pleasant, but it's still a commonplace theme, and this version adds nothing much new to the realm of bedtime stories. The artwork features stylized animals with shades of brown and blue predominating. Those in search of current titles from China may wish to consider adding this title as representative. Pleasantly familiar but nothing new. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews