Wake Up, Sleepy Bear by Greg Shaw, Christine Morton-Shaw, Greg Shaw, John Butler (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

John Butler introduces his beloved baby animals to a new setting in this book, creating inviting scenes of a new day dawning in a forest. All of the animals, from cuddly bears to tiny, furry mice, wake up in their different nests and homes and then gather together to welcome a newborn fawn into the world. With a lively rhyming text and beautiful, textured paintings that fill every page, this is sure to become a favorite "good morning" book.

About the Author: Christine Morton-Shaw and Greg Shaw are a husband-and-wife team. Christine is also the author of seven other picture books. They live in Sheffield, England, with their children.

John Butler is the illustrator of Whose Baby Am I? and many other books for children. He lives in England.

Children's Literature

Sometimes it is easy to forget that pictures can make or break a picture book. John Butler's illustrations in this book draw the reader in with such delicious pastel softness, they overcome the otherwise unimpressive quality of the rhyming text. Who can resist baby animals that look like plush stuffed toys, their big black eyes glowing moistly in the soft light of a forest dawn? A bear cub, a pair of baby squirrels, bunnies, fledgling chickadees, and fuzzy little mice, all wake up and make their way to a clearing to welcome a suitably doe-eyed, newborn fawn. It is a story with a plot so simple it holds few surprises for even the youngest child, told in a repetitive, sing-song, verse that does not quite rhyme. What redeems this book from mediocrity is the dreamlike illustration, with a charm factor that will win over even the most jaded of readers.

School Library Journal

PreS-K-A cuddly brown cub and his friends wake from peaceful sleep with the urgent command to hurry for a party. "Wake up, wake up, sleepy rabbits!/Time to rise, time to shine,/Hurry up, it's party time!" They gather roots, seeds, nuts, and berries and join the parade of animals quietly creeping along the forest. They reach a clearing, where a mother deer rests. Nearby is her newborn fawn. "Wake up, wake up, sleepy fawn!/Time to rise, time to shine,/Time to start your living-time!" The animals all welcome the newest addition and present their gifts as the fawn rises to join the celebration. The soft, pale-hued, lifelike illustrations will be a big hit with toddlers and preschoolers. Perfect for groups as well as for one-on-one sharing.-DeAnn Okamura, San Mateo County Library, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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