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. 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. Publishers Weekly describes the plot as, “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. Coming in at #83 I can attest that in my library system copies of Bear Snores On fly off the shelves with surprising speed.
Considering how hugely popular this book became and the numerous sequels that were to follow, the fact that the hero is known only by his species and not by a catchy name like Bernard or Baskin maybe means that the book remains just a tiny bit more obscure than it would be otherwise.
Sometimes I wonder if Karma Wilson has ever regretted not giving Bear a name. #83 Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman (2002)Ī perfect blend of story, catchy poetry, and cute pictures.
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