Bear Snores On

To me, this book has a great combination of sleepy and silly elements. The illustrations are warm and cozy, and throughout the book, Bear snores happily in the background.

My kids and I love that while Bear sleeps, a party starts forming in his cave. We love seeing the party grow until Bear wakes up to discover what’s going on.

Bear Snores On was an all-time favorite board book to read with my kids any time of year, but especially in their cozy winter bedding, snow piled high outside.

“In a cave in the woods, in his deep dark lair, through the long cold winter sleeps a great brown bear.” Rich acrylic illustrations bring you through a swirling storm into Bear’s warm, cozy cave. The rhythmic, rhyming text is rife with alliteration, as one by one, forest creatures begin to seek refuge in the cave.

The resulting party gets raucous, “But the bear snores on,” goes the refrain. Then, some… show more.

All of Karma Wilson’s bear books are such fun to read to younger children.

Bear Snores On was especially a favorite with my kids because we got to snore like a bear every few pages, and at the end when the bear wakes up, there is such a range of emotional expressions to act out, from snarling to grumbling to whimpering and blubbering.

It lends itself well to social and emotional awareness and discussions on a lighthearted scale. And of course, the artwork is both sweet and beautiful.