This Is Not a Sleepy Bear Book - by Brian Gehrlein (Hardcover)

About the Book

An amusing series of interruptions--from DJs with lasers to jazz flute solos--thwarts a bear's journey to hibernation.

Book Synopsis

The classic "bear hibernation" story is turned on its head in this hilarious read-aloud full of surprises, perfect for a cozy winter read and story time year-round!

This is was supposed to be a sleepy bear book--a gentle, quiet story. Until Bear opened his cozy, quiet den, only to find--A DJ and a disco ball? Guitar riffs and a booming bass? A random jazz flute?Stop all these shenanigans! THIS ISN'T WHAT HAPPENS IN A SLEEPY BEAR BOOK!

Things only get noisier and more chaotic with every turn of the page. Winking at storytime conventions in a way that'll crack kids up, This Is Not a Sleepy Bear Book combines classic bedtime story tropes with visual, giggle-worthy surprises that offer a memorable twist and a great read-aloud.

Review Quotes

"On the eve of hibernation season, a well-meaning, if overbearing, owl attempts to coax Bear to sleep with a bedtime story. As with many a meta picture book, the action veers off from the expected: while Owl reads the calming words ('He yawned a big bear yawn. And opened his very quiet den'), the art shows what's really going on: a band rocking out in Bear's living room. Cartoon illustrations (done in 'blood, sweat, tears, and Photoshop') shift between peaceful wintry scenes and the rollicking inside of Bear's domicile, complete with disco ball and party hats."--Horn Book

"Children will love the surprise ending and the expressive characters in this silly hibernation story."--School Library Journal

"[A] humorously told, wonderfully illustrated tale that reminds readers of all ages it's okay to balance doing what needs to be done with having lots of fun."--BookPage, starred review

"Guaranteed to garner giggles."--BCCB

* "The pacing is pitch-perfect.... The zany humor of the story resolves with almost surprising tenderness and lessons about friendship and flexibility."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

About the Author

Brian Gehrlein is the author of The Book of Rules, illustrated by Tom Knight. He's also the creator of the website Picture Book Spotlight. Brian teaches high school English and lives in a cozy den in Liberty, Missouri, with his wife, Katherine; two sons, Peter and Albee; and their two corgis. Brian invites you to find him on social media @briangehrlein or say hello at pbspotlight.com.