BEAR DREAMS

Cooper has expanded his point-of-view from diminutive (Ice Cream, 2002) to expansive (Magic Thinks Big, 2004), demonstrating that his focal point works well using either lens. When Bear can’t sleep, he wonders why he has to stay in a cold cave when the other animals get to play outside; it’s not fair. But he has a plan; he calls the animals together so he can race with the rabbits, wrestle with the moose, climb trees like the woodpecker and fly across the lake with the geese. As the animals fall asleep, Bear still wants to play—until he too, falls asleep, and his mother and father carry him back to his warm cave. Watercolor-and-ink illustrations depict the child-like behavior with vertical and horizontal panels to generate motion, using white borders that frame the mottled animal shapes and spareness of words. A charming bedtime tale for young ones. (Picture book. 3-5)