These enormously appealing picture books show bears both big and small preparing to hibernate for the winter, saying good night to friends, and finding just the right bed. Feasting until full and being safe and warm helps the animals settle in for the duration. Oh, and a rude awakening results in two hungry bears heading to town for a high-spirited romp.

Biedrzycki, David. Breaking News: Bear Alert. illus. by David Biedrzycki. 32p. ebook available. Charlesbridge. 2014. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781580896634.

K-Gr 2 –Better suited to individual reading than storytime, this picture book is loaded with comedic touches that make poring over the pages a lot of fun. The text is minimal, only appearing as the recognizable ticker that runs at the bottom of the television screen during cable news programming or in speech balloons over the heads of citizens being interviewed by reporters. The lack of a fully written narrative requires readers to really delve into the art to glean clues to the story line, a wonderful means for deep engagement. Two bears wake from their winter slumber and decide to take a field trip to civilization, having a ball while townsfolk run this way and that in alarm. The illustrations are big, bold, and delightfully busy. As the bears enjoy their outing, a secondary situation develops involving two thieves and a charming feline sidekick. The criminals and critters cross paths in the end, and the wayward bears are feted as heroes for actions that only coincidentally save the day. Kids will love the goofy grown-ups, round-bellied bears, and tiny jokes—like a diner sign advertising porridge “too hot, too cold, or just right”—embedded in the artwork, and they’ll enjoy putting together all the rib-tickling pieces of the story on their own.–Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

McEwen, Katharine. Bear Hug. illus. by Katharine McEwen. 32p. Candlewick/Templar. 2014. RTE $15.99. ISBN 9780763666309. LC 2013955672.

PreS-K –A young bear prepares for hibernation, just as his parents taught him. He gathers leaves for his cave, feasts on fish and berries, and meets a mate. When winter comes, they slumber in their cozy den, “snug in a big bear hug.” In spring, they awake together and welcome their new cub. As summer becomes autumn, they teach their little one how to get ready for winter, retreating to their cave when snow starts to fall. McEwen’s mostly double-page collage illustrations deftly capture the feel of a dense forest, filled with stylized trees, snowflakes, rocks, and birds. Though the bears are not heavily anthropomorphized, the story is more idealized than factual, as real bears are solitary animals and do not rear their young in family units. An appealing, if somewhat flawed, portrayal of serene bear life amid the changing of seasons.–Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

McFarland, Clive. A Bed for Bear. illus. by Clive McFarland. 32p. HarperCollins/Harper. Nov. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062237057.

PreS-K –McFarland revisits familiar terrain with the story of Bernard, who feels his regular cave is crowded and uncomfortable. His quest for other accommodations leads to queries with Frog, Bird, Rabbit, Hedgehog, and Badger. When their abodes prove unsuitable, the mouse who’s been trailing Bernard asks what kind of bed he wants. Mouse’s suggestion takes them back to the perfect place—home, of course. McFarland uses watercolors merged in Photoshop to illustrate with an autumn palette and generous white space. A sweet and satisfying bedtime selection.–Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Teckentrup, Britta. Sleep Tight, Little Bear. illus. by Britta Teckentrup. 40p. NorthSouth Books. 2014. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9780735841802.

PreS-Gr 1 –Little Bear and his mother are preparing their cave for a long winter’s sleep, but before they settle in, they travel through the forest saying good night to all their friends: Badger, Mommy Fox and her cubs, Deer, Rabbit, the mice, Squirrel, Wolf, and even grumpy Owl. Finally, after snuggling together on a hill to watch the setting sun, they retire to their cozy nest of soft leaves. The flat, mixed-media illustrations vary from spreads depicting the forest habitat to charming vignettes of stylized animals nose-to-nose in farewell. Teckentrup evokes the colors of late autumn by rendering some bare trees, an evergreen in bright red, and the forest hills and floor in different golden hues. As the day wanes, the background transforms from light to ever-darker shades, lightened only temporarily by the disappearing sun. Baby Bear’s desire for reassurance that his mother with remain with him always, and his requests for “one more hug” and “one more kiss” before he nods off are needs often experienced by little ones, making this a fine choice for bedtime. Teachers will find this story, along with the author’s note that describes how each of the bears’ animal friends spends the winter, helpful for sparking discussion about changing seasons, animal habits, and students’ own winter activities.–Marianne Saccardi, Children’s Literature Consultant, Greenwich, CT