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Sleepy Bear is having trouble sleeping. Looking around his quiet, dark room, he sees that his toys —Lion, Ball, and Train —are fast asleep. He quietly wanders to check on his parents and finds they are also sleeping soundly. He feels tired and would love to crawl into his parents' bed, but there is no room. He returns to his own room to find Lion, Ball, and Train still asleep. Even the sun remains asleep. Sleepy Bear crawls back into his bed to find it warm and cozy. When he closes his eyes, the tired bear drifts off to sleep. The next morning, he wakes up to find the sun is up and his bright-eyed, smiling toys are ready to begin the day. The proud little bear learns the importance of sleep. It gives him the energy to run and play the next morning.
This children's book, written by a mother-daughter team, is the result of a phone conversation between the two concerning Safrani's son, who was transitioning to a junior bed. As the two were discussing the situation, Yacobi created the story of the delightful Sleepy Bear. In fact, she attests on her website, "In one of our phone conversations, I thought a story approach might help. Most of the story is exactly the story I told her spontaneously on the phone." This inventive children's book is a great tool for parents. Children will not only adore the little bear but will also learn the importance of sleeping through the night. The interactive chart at the end of the book provides a space for parents to help the young reader track their sleep habits. The chart allows the child to be rewarded with stickers or stamps when they sleep through the night, making it easy for parents to keep track.
This gorgeous little book is the perfect choice for a bedtime story. Philip L. Wohlrab's illustrations are beautiful, with the peacefulness of a quiet night evoked through his use of muted colors. Sleepy Bear is depicted as an adorable, young bear in a red onesie pajama set. Young readers will adore the cute little bear as well as the book's storyline. They will look forward to tracking their progress each morning. Parents and children will enjoy the valuable lessons taught through Sleepy Bear's quest for a good night's sleep while appreciating the beauty of the accompanying artwork.
As an educator and grandmother of five, Yacobi is well-suited to get into the mind of the young child. She and her daughter are the creators of a curriculum "to make it easy for beginners of all ages to learn how to read Hebrew." Her background as the educational director of synagogue schools and a writer of curriculum gives her a unique perspective on helping young children cope with this significant life change. This creative team has provided parents struggling with their child's bedtime with a valuable resource.
The authors share a website titled everyoneisasleepbutme.com, indicating that additional topics may eventually be explored through the character of this adorable little bear. This work could easily become a series to help young children adapt to their expanding world. Parents of young children can sometimes be overwhelmed by their children's milestones, especially those that interrupt their own much-needed sleep. This wonderfully illustrated, purposeful book is sure to become a much-loved bedtime tradition.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review