Spring is Here

Mole wakes up one morning and can smell that spring has arrived, but his friend Bear remains fast asleep. The persistent Mole decides he must find a way to wake Bear up from hibernation. Mole attempts multiple strategies to rouse his friend, putting his enthusiasm and determination to work. His efforts to wake Bear lead to both challenges and humorous moments. Through the story's focus on friendship and seasonal change, this picture book expresses themes of persistence and the anticipation of sharing special moments with those we care about. The changing relationship between sleep and wakefulness mirrors the transition from winter to spring.

Parents and teachers report this book helps young children recognize signs of spring through Mole trying to wake up his hibernating friend Bear. The simple, repetitive text works for toddlers and early readers. Readers liked: - Clear, gentle illustrations that show emotion - Short sentences good for beginning readers - Teaches friendship and persistence - Works well for classroom units on seasons Readers disliked: - Some found the story too basic - A few noted the book feels short for the price Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (219 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (47 ratings) One preschool teacher wrote: "Perfect for teaching seasons to 2-3 year olds. The pictures let them predict what will happen next." A parent noted: "My toddler asks for this nightly and mimics trying to wake up Bear. The repetition helps him learn the words."

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson A hibernating bear sleeps through the gathering of woodland friends in his cave until a surprise awakening brings them all together.

Time to Sleep by Denise Fleming Forest animals warn each other about winter's approach as they prepare for hibernation.

Wake Up, Bear by Lynley Dodd A young bear resists waking up from winter sleep while woodland creatures attempt to rouse him.

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes An elderly bear dreams through winter hibernation about the seasons of his youth.

Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep by Maureen Wright A bear misunderstands Old Man Winter's instructions about hibernation and engages in various activities before finally going to sleep.

🌱 Will Hillenbrand has illustrated over 60 children's books throughout his career, both his own stories and those of other authors. 🦔 The main character, Mole, appears in several other books by Hillenbrand, including "Down by the Barn" and "Off We Go!" 🌸 The book explores themes of friendship and persistence as Mole tries different methods to wake up his hibernating friend Bear. 🐻 Bears typically hibernate for 5-7 months during winter, entering a state where their heart rate drops to only 8-12 beats per minute. 🎨 Hillenbrand creates his illustrations using a combination of traditional techniques like colored pencils and watercolors alongside digital tools.