Review by Booklist Review
Bernard the bear is not looking forward to hibernating in the noisy, crowded cave this winter, so he sets out in search of a better bed. How about frog's lily pad? Wet isn't very comfy. What about rabbit's burrow? This is a tight fit. There's a cozy-looking spot at the base of a tree, but a badger sett is no place for bears. Soon his pillow, not to mention his own body, is covered in sticks and leaves, and dejected Bernard doesn't know where to turn. Luckily, a friendly mouse, who has had his eye on Bernard the whole time, has a great tip about a place that's cozy, warm, and dry. McFarland does not waste any time establishing the subtly witty and dry tone, while slyly introducing youngsters to a handful of animal habitats. The cut-paper collage illustrations, which make great use of animal eyes to telegraph expressions, are richly textured and add to the spare, autumnal atmosphere. This wryly funny story is perfect for bedtime, particularly for little cubs who can't get comfy.--Miller, Annie Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A bed of one's own-that's all Bernard the bear wants, because the cave where his fellow bears will be hibernating is "too noisy, too big, and too crowded." So Bernard tries out the beds of other forest dwellers, wreaking mild havoc along the way, demolishing Bird's nest, and nearly doing the same to Rabbit's hutch. Mouse, who has been trailing Bernard, shows him exactly what he wants: "a bed that is not wet, not windy, extra roomy, with just the right amount of company!" Of course, it's the bear cave. McFarland's short text is as literal as it gets, and the arts-and-crafts earnestness of his illustrations, made from digitally enhanced paper and watercolors, ostensibly promises little more than a standard-issue quest. What McFarland has going for him is a sneaky sense of visual wit. Where other creators would have shown Bernard's victims having conniption fits, Bernard's cluelessness earns him some very Klassen-y side-eye from the other animals. Once readers glean what's going on behind all the poker faces and understatement, they'll be hooked. Ages 4-8. Agency: the Bright Agency. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
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 (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Bernard doubts he can hibernate in his crowded home cave with the other bears distracting him. He tests different animals' beds, but they're not satisfactory either. Returning home when things are quieter, Bernard realizes his bed suits him after all. Though the plot is too familiar, McFarland does include some amusing twists in his Jon Klassenesque digitally assembled watercolor illustrations. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This simple tale riffs on a perennial theme: "There's no place like home." It's nearly time for bears to hibernate for the winter, but young Bernard thinks his clan's cave is "too noisy, too big, and too crowded." Pillow under arm and a yellow, fringed scarf wrapped around his neck, the green-eyed fellow sets off to find a better place to sleep. He tries out Frog's lily pad, discovering that "[w]et isn't very comfy." Ditto for Bird's windy perch and Rabbit's too-tight burrow. Hedgehog sleeps in the opennot to Bernard's liking. And while a spot in a hollow tree seems cozy (if lonely), Badger soon returns to claim it. A pink-tailed gray mouse, who's observed Bernard's entire quest, asks "What kind of bed DO you want?" When the bear answers, Mouse knows just what to do. A double-page spread shows the pair backtracking among all of Bernard's stops, returning to a bed that's perfect for him. Irish illustrator McFarland's digitally composed crayon-and-watercolor cutouts are backed by expansive white space. Stylized animals and austere, minimalist flora evoke Jon Klassen's workand that sage little mouse, that of Leo Lionni. A visual progression shows that Bernard's pillow, having trapped leaves and sticks along the way, is left behind for Hedgehog. A final picture depicts the sprawling, slumbering bears. Pleasantthough it does not plow particularly new ground. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
