Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2017 Dozy is a little bear that wants to sleep, but doesn’t know how. Thinking about all the animals that are fast asleep, Dozy wonders if there’s a secret to sleeping. Family members take turns assuring him that there is no secret. Mama Bear says, “You just wait for sleep to come,” while Papa encourages him to slowly wiggle body parts—from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. Nana Bear encourages stretching as Dozy begins to settle down and get sleepy. Grampy Bear instructs him to “hush and listen to the night.” And as Mama Bear wraps him “close like a blanket,” she prompts him to take deep, long breaths. Plenty of anticipated repetition and interaction lace Blackburn’s inviting, almost hypnotic narrative. Using a mix of bold and faded hues, Smythe’s nighttime scenes, rendered in collage-style compositions of blocky shapes, show the subdued forest full of creatures cuddling. A soothing story for little ones with difficulties settling down for the night. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2017 PreS-K—Dozy Bear doesn't know how to go to sleep. Mama, Papa, Nana, and Grampy Bear help Dozy find slumber by teaching him to listen to the quiet sounds of the night and by showing him how to practice deep breathing. Meant to be read aloud, the text uses unspecified "tried-and-true techniques" to teach children how to fall asleep. A lot of the success of this selection may depend upon the tone and cadence of readers' voices. The rhythmic language and the repetition and emphasis of certain words create a tranquil mood. Words such as heavy, cozy, settled, and snuggled encourage body awareness and mindfulness. The mellow illustrations reinforce the text's gentle progression toward sleep as they transition from the warm colors of sunset into the soft and cool hues of night. Children will appreciate Dozy Bear and his forest friends. Parents whose children struggle to fall asleep may benefit from integrating this story into the bedtime routine. Outside of naptime and bedtime, the title may lack the versatility necessary for general classroom and library use. VERDICT An optional purchase for library collections that already include soothing bedtime tales.—Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State University, OH - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.