The Bear in the Book

This story actually sums everything up that I have been saying about the importance of picture books. Right here in this book, the author has actually recreated a scene of reading a story to a child but incorporating the story within a story. It is brilliant! The story begins with, "Once there was a book..."

It is bedtime and a little boy chooses his favorite book on the shelf for his mother to read to him. A story about a bear, a big black bear who goes to sleep for the winter. As the mother is reading the story, the little boy turns the pages and asks questions about the bear. The fabulous rythmic text is brought to life by Georg Hallensleben's vibraint paintings.

We get a glimpse as a reader about the interplay between a child and his mother during their bedtime ritual of reading a story. The author has created a perfect model of how a mother and child share a book together, right down to the cuddling on the bed, looking at the pictures, and talking about the concepts in the book. And just as the bear is waking up from his long winter's sleep, the little boy begins to close his eyes for the night. Once again a picture book that truly shows the power that books have in connecting books to readers.

This could easily be one of the Caldecott winners for 2012. Recommended for ages 3 and up.