Wide-Awake Bear

Elliott Bear wakes up early from his winter hibernation and cannot fall back asleep, despite his mother's attempts to help him. His mind races with worries about potential dangers lurking in their den and the dark forest outside. His mother guides him through dealing with his anxious thoughts and fears about the night. Together they explore ways to cope with being awake when they should be sleeping. The story presents familiar bedtime and anxiety challenges through the lens of hibernating bears. This gentle tale offers comfort to young readers who struggle with nighttime fears and restless minds.

Parents and teachers report this picture book helps children deal with bedtime anxiety and restlessness. Multiple reviews note it works well for 2-5 year olds who have trouble falling back asleep after waking up at night. Readers praise: - Simple, relatable storyline that mirrors real child behaviors - Soothing tone that helps calm restless kids - Illustrations that capture nighttime atmosphere - Length suitable for bedtime reading Common criticisms: - Some found the resolution too quick - A few noted their children didn't connect with the bear character Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (267 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (44 ratings) "Perfect for my 3-year-old who wakes up and can't get back to sleep," wrote one Amazon reviewer. Another parent on Goodreads noted: "The repetitive phrases helped my daughter remember strategies for handling middle-of-night wake-ups."

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Sleep Like A Tiger by Mary Logue A child prepares for bedtime by learning about how different animals sleep.

And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano A boy plants seeds and waits through winter until spring finally arrives.

Waiting by Kevin Henkes Five toys on a windowsill observe the changing seasons and weather while anticipating different events.

🌟 Author Pat Zietlow Miller wrote this story inspired by her younger daughter, who often had trouble falling back asleep after waking in the middle of the night 🌙 Black bears typically den for 5-7 months during winter, with cubs born while the mother is in hibernation 🐻 The book's illustrator, Jean Kim, created the artwork using both traditional and digital media to capture the cozy, nighttime atmosphere 🌲 Unlike in the story, real bear cubs don't usually wake up during hibernation - their bodies are specially adapted to sleep through the winter months 📚 This is one of several bedtime-themed picture books by Pat Zietlow Miller, who has written over 20 children's books, including the bestseller "Sophie's Squash"