The illustrations and text of this book are wonderful. We read this at bedtime very regularly. It is a story about a tiny creature who is cared for by a bigger bear and his family until he finds himself back safely snuggled in his own bed. -- My three year old son finds the play on size just enchanting. He really attends to the story, picks up on the subtleties of the illustrations, and always gives a heartfelt chuckle at the end of the book.-- I guess he knows firsthand just what it is like to be littler than most things, but bigger than some! Great intro to a discussion about the different sizes that all things can come in.

This wonderfully, warm and touching book chronicles Giant Baby Bear's discovery of a Very Small while walking in the forest. Giant Baby Bear offers to share his Mommy and Daddy with the lost Very Small. He even builds a playground for the Very Small using things from his room. The Very Small eats with Giant Baby Bear and bathes in the soap dish. Finally, Giant Baby Bear and the Very Small settle down to sleep. Although, the Very Small is sad and misses his family, it appears he has found a family to share with Giant Baby Bear. Suddenly, Giant Baby Bear sneezes sending the Very Small tumbling and flying safely back to his parents. The Very Small's parents tuck him into bed with his own baby bear who is very, very small. This is a charmingly tender book of sharing and friendship. The illustrations are watercolors with deep vibrant colors. The bears have sweet, loving faces and the Very Small is adorably elfish. The layout of the text when the Very Small is sneezed back to his parents is in a downward arch and adds to the feeling of flying through the story. This fine bedtime book reinforces the value of family and encourages bedtime hugs and cuddles.

Delightful! It was a wonderful story about sharing everything that Baby Big Bear had with the Very Small that he just found. Very Small was lost and Baby Big Bear tried to make him feel better by sharing with him. A great way to illustrate compassion to your child. The illustration was beautifully done with appealing colors and an adorable Very Small. My three-year-old and I enjoy it over and over.

Deb Manitowoc, WI

Flora's Surprise! is a simple and charming full-color picturebook written and illustrated by Debi Gliori. Flora the rabbit and her family are all busy planting different things - but while the other rabbits plant seeds, Flora plants a brick and waits and waits for it to grow into a house. A twist ending complements this upbeat and confidently recommended picturebook story.

This engaging picture book for preschool-grade K is one of Gliori's best. Flora rabbit and her older siblings go to work in the garden. While the siblings plant seeds for flowers and vegetables, Flora plants a brick in a flowerpot which she claims will blossom into a house, despite warnings to the contrary. When spring comes, the garden is all in bloom, and it turns out that Flora was right too - her flowerpot has a bird in a nest living on it! Kids will enjoy the gentle humor of this tale, and will identify with Flora having to stick up for herself when her elders dismiss her ideas. The garden pictures are warm and colorful too.

My 21 month old loves this book. She begs for it by name. She loves investigating with Mr. Bear. As a byproduct of our many readings has learned many words from the book. We highly recommend it!

One of our all time favorites. Mr. Bear has fallen asleep reading the newspaper and now he can't find his baby! This is a simple, sweet story with charming illustrations. It also has very durable lift flaps. We've been reading it with our daughter since she was just months old and now it is one of her favorites to sit and "read" through by herself. I notice it is one of the first books visiting toddlers and preschoolers go for when come to our house. Highly recommended.

Ages 3-5 and their parents will appreciate this set of updated bedtime stories which are told with new twists to plot. Three Little Pigs, Little Red Hen and others often pair rollicking rhymes perfect for read-loud with twists of plot which will keep parents interested in the outcome, as well. Bedtime Stories is a fine set of wonderful little tales for young and old alike.

The playful illustrations on the cover continue throughout the book, illustrating over fifty cherished nursery rhymes. Debi Gliori is one of the most popular children's artists of today. She has written and illustrated more than forty children's titles. Her art captures the essence of the rhymes and brings out the magic and joy of childhood. The art also brings some humor and insight to rhymes children have always cherished for hundreds of years.

The first poem is illustrated in a morning scene of children waking. The last is a beautiful poem about a baby sleeping. These poems are part of our cultural heritage and Debi shows how many of the poems relate to history.

When reading "Little Miss Muffet" it is fun for children to know what "curds" are or for children to discover that "Hot-Cross-Buns" was originally sung by street vendors. "Monday's Child," "Roses are Red," Peter Piper," "Hickory, dickory, dock" and many other wonderful nursery rhymes are waiting for your child to discover them as you did as a child. I absolutely adore the illustrations and I know your child will too. You will especially enjoy singing "Hush little baby, don't say a word," to your newborn baby.

Simply magical!

We first found Mr. Bear To The Rescue, by the same author, which is a terrific book, as well as Mr. Bear's Picnic. Those are longer books, good for bedtime stories. These little board books
are short, good for toddlers, super cute illustrations. I love Mr. Bear and Baby Bear and so does my daughter.

My daughter recieved this book, along with Mr. Bear says "Good Night" when she was born. We read them to her almost every night, along with a stack of others. My daughter is now 2 1/2 years old, and she still asks for this one. Even when we're away from home (& the book) I tell her the story at bedtime and she's happy. These books make great gifts too! I've given several to new moms and they all love them.

Mr. Bear has a very kind heart, a somewhat clumsy step, and a very resourceful wife. One night he and his wife are sung in their bed on a wild and windy night when they hear their neighbor Rabbit-Bunn cry out that the warren has collapsed. The wind has also knocked down the owl next, the beehive is ruined, and bunny baby Flora can't be found anywhere. Mr. Bear heads out into the storm to the rescue. Mr. Bear To The Rescue is a delightful picturebook story and highly recommended, entertaining reading for young children preschool through first grade.

When our kids were small, this darling text provided welcome nightly relief from sibling rivalry. The "r" in brother is deleted (and reinserted) from the cover illustration, hinting at the delights inside.

The big sister wishes her brother away. Then he disappears for real, and until she finds him asleep in the cupboard, she has serious second thoughts. Reading this book always reminds our daughter that she loves her little "bother" of a pest too. She has since outgrown this "keeper" but the palitative was nice while it lasted. Alyssa A. Lappen

Although this is not on the vaunted favorites short list when my 5 month-old and I turn to read books every night, it did make the "more frequented often than not" list and here's why...

...the illustrations are wonderful. The moral is good telling of unconditional love between Large (Mom Fox...but please don't call the real world mother that after shipping the boy off to bed and returning to your own bed...it won't be a happy household on the whole if you know what I mean) and Small (Toddler Fox). The language is fairly good sticking to simple rhymes but on the whole the love of words doesn't thoroughly seep through the pages. The story line is perhaps a little too "everything is rosy, put your index finger in your smiling dimple and wiggle it around" Polyanna. Not that optimistic feel good storybooks aren't the mark for childhood reading... But back to the illustrations...

...they are wonderful watercolors that drip and dip with creative colors and a wonderful sense of domestic haloed lights. It gives off a Florentine home Goddess warmth with an enchanted play between color light and shadow. My favorite as will probably be your child's as well, is the "squishy bug" that still gets loved and hugged. He eats holes in his gardening book and wraps his tentacles around Large's Fox ears. Wonderful enchanting stuff.

If you already have all the baby/toddler/childhood standards and classics by all means go get this one. ...

What a great message to your children! My daughter loves this book and we have to read it several times a day! The illustrations are beautiful and creative and there is something new to find each day! I bought the book and started reading it when she was 10 months old. Enjoy!

Perfect from start to finish! Warm and fuzzy is how you'll feel when you read it with your child...my little son and I create our own rituals in reading the book, and use it as a platform to reaffirm our unconditional love for one another...we start with the "summary" at the beginning, and read it through at least twice every single day since we've had it...the illustrations are so lovely, evocative of parental love and caring...we note: Large isn't specifically mentioned as Small's "mother", so caring and devotion aren't exclusively feminine, a good message for my little guy, that men can be cuddly and affectionate, too