Cozy up with these great books about hibernation!
Knock Knock
By Tammi Sauer | Illustrated by Guy Francis | Published by Scholastic
This is my go-to read aloud book for the hibernation theme! Told completely in knock-knock jokes, multiple forest animals knock on Bear’s door as he is trying to go to bed. Turns out, they are just coming over to throw him a Happy Hibernation Party! Have the kids say the repeated parts of the knock, knock jokes and you fill in the rest.
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons
By Il Sung Na | Published by Alfred A. Knopf
With rich, layered illustrations and simple, lyrical text, this is a gorgeous introduction to the concepts of adaptation, hibernation, migration, and changing seasons. The rabbit stays active all winter, and appears on every page, so there is a built in seek-and-find element. The pacing is so gentle, making it an ideal candidate to stop on each page and talk about what’s going on. Several species of hare do in fact turn different colors in the winter vs spring
William’s Winter Nap
By Linda Ashman | Illustrated by Chuck Groenink
Published by Little, Brown Books For Young Readers
A delightful story with a classic feel and adorable, cozy illustrations - this is a must read! William is settling down for a long winter’s nap, when one by one, multiple animals ask to come inside from the cold. Children can tap, knock, boom, crunch along as William makes room for all the animals. While the bear is technically the only animal who hibernates in the book, the other woodland critters do enter a state of semi-hibernation called torpor
Spring Is Here
By Will Hillenbrand | Published by Holiday House
Mole wakes up and - sniff, sniff, sniff - it’s spring! He tries all sorts of things to wake hibernating Bear (action words abound) but each attempt is met with a “snore” which gets funnier for some reason every time it is repeated. Mole finally gets an idea to make Bear a yummy breakfast from scratch - the best way to wake up!
Sleep Big Bear, Sleep!
By Maureen Wright | Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
Published by Two Lions
Old Man Winter knows it’s time for Bear to hibernate, so he keeps telling him to sleep. But Bear doesn’t hear very well and keeps hearing silly action words that rhyme with sleep - drive a jeep, sweep, leap. Finally he hears what Old Man Winter has been saying the whole time, and is coincidentally exhausted from all of his antics! An adorable, silly read aloud, great for talking about rhyming as well.
Rainbow Bear
By Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson | Illustrated by Nathalie Beauvois
Published by Brown Books Kids
Little Bear wakes up from hibernation and is super hungry! He goes outside and finds berries to eat that match all the colors of the rainbow. Young children will enjoy following Little Bear and naming all the colors. With vivid collage illustrations, this is a simple, surefire read-aloud pick - especially for younger audiences.