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!

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)

Since 2002, young readers (and, yes, we admit, their parents) have delighted to Karma Wilson's tale of a forest creature's very contented winter hibernation. Even the cold winter night arrival of an entire menagerie of chattering animal friends doesn't snap Bear's peaceful slumber. An adorable picture book for any child who likes animals; in other words, any child.

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.

Littlest hands will also clamor for the board book edition of Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illus. by Jane Chapman, a tale of hibernation and friendship. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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.

Snug in his cave, not even some visitors seeking shelter from the storm can wake Bear. Mouse arrives and builds a small fire to warm the chilly air. Hare arrives and they pop corn and brew tea, but even the slurping and burping doesn't bother Bear. Even when Badger passes out crunchy honey nuts and more guests begin arriving, "Bear snores on." By the time Gopher, Mole, Wren, and Raven arrive, it's a full-blown party. "And they nibble and they munch with a chew-chomp-crunch! But the bear snores on." Nothing seems to bother Bear, at least until an errant pepper flake from the stew tickles his nose. Sneezing awake, Bear is furious, but not because everyone is having a party in his cave, but because he has slept through it all. The other animals comfort Bear by insisting that the party is just beginning. Stories and food carry the party until dawn and as all the other animals snuggle in to sleep, only Bear is left awake unable to recapture his slumber. An icy blue palette illustrates the cold winter night, while the cave's interior is rendered in warm tones of reds and browns. The delightful illustrations on over-sized pages depicting the animals' party are the perfect accompaniment to the lyrical text. Little ones will snuggle into bed on a snowy night to hear this one.

As Bear hibernates through the winter, mouse and an ever increasing group of his friends take advantage of the comforts in Bear's cave. Bear is oblivious to the foods being assembled, roasted, and feasted upon within a paw's reach. Bear snores on--until the seasonings for a stew change all that. A few moments of growling give way to midwinter merriment. John McDonough brings distinction to each of the den's occupants. He narrates a great gruff bear, a fine squeaky mouse, and a muttering mole, emphasizing the rhyme and using pauses to heighten the drama. His narration is as pleasurable as the tale. A.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine