Bear Snores On

Wilson, Karma. Bear snores on. Margret K. McElderry Books, Ney York 2002

“Bear Snores On” is an ideal title that foreshadows the story about a hibernating bear to the reader. There are many events that happened throughout the story, but all the while the lazy bear snores on. Written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman, the way they used the text and pictures together really adds effect. Chapman really captures the weather by using warm red and orange colors to show the coziness of the bears den versus the bitter cold snowy weather by using cooler tones of blue and white. Although this is a fantasy story, the wispy strokes of color make the animals look realistic and their fur so cuddly.

A great brown bear while sleeping un-knowingly shares his lair with some of his forest friends. They come in one by one starting with a mouse and then a hair, “and they nibble and they munch with a CHEW- CHOMP- CRUNCH! But, the bear snores on” (Wilson 14). Wilson has craft fully made the lines of the story rhyme. The unusual breaks and oversized words along with their placement really emphasize the rhythm of the story. “I’ve brought honey-nuts, Badger says with a grin, let’s divvy them up, cozy down and dig in” (Wilson 13). The animals tweet and twitter, dance and party around the lair while the great brown bear snores on, until a single pepper flake tickles the bears nose and he lets out a huge AaaaaCHoooo!!! Angry at first, the great brown bear is only upset that he missed out on all of the fun. So all of the animals tell tales all through the blustery night until they all fall asleep, except for the great brown bear who is left wide awake.