Product Description

The hour was late and Mr Bear was tired. But he could not sleep – however he tried and wherever he tried.

SNORE, SNORE went Mrs Bear.

TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK went the clock.

Would he never get to sleep?

The familiar noises, repetition and beautiful illustrations make this delightful picture book an all-time favourite with children and adults everywhere.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1111 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 36 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
This Big Book edition of Jill Murphy's classic picture book is ideal for sharing with groups of children.

It's late at night and Mr Bear is desperately trying to sleep--but Mrs Bear snores so he tries Baby Bear's room, but Baby Bear is pretending to be an aeroplane so there's no peace there. Room by room Mr Bear goes through the house trying to find somewhere to sleep.

Bright colourful pictures accompany the simple, repetitive text of this delightful storybook. Children will delight in all the wonderful sound effects and Mr Bear's reaction--"TICK-TOCK...went the living room clock...TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK. CUCKOO! CUCKOO! "Oh NO!" said Mr Bear, "I can't stand THIS." So he went off to sleep in the kitchen." And parents will have plenty of empathy for poor Mr Bear's predicament. (Ages 3 and over)

A Big Book edition of this story is also available.

About the Author

Jill Murphy's books sell in their hundreds of thousands. She is perhaps best known for her classic Worst Witch stories which she started writing when she was fifteen but she is also a hugely successful picture book author and illustrator. PEACE AT LAST was her first picture book and was commended in the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal. She went on to win the Smarties Prize for THE LAST NOO-NOO (Walker). Jill lives in Cornwall with her son.

Customer Reviews

Another super book, with brilliant artwork
from Jill Murphy!

Poor Mr Bear is having trouble getting to sleep, which may strike a chord with some!

From the back cover:-

'The hour was late and Mr Bear was tired.
But he could not sleep - however he tried and whatever he tried.
Snore, Snore went Mrs Bear.
Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock went the clock.
Would he never get to sleep?

For this new edition of her picture book classic,
Jill Murphy has carefully restored all the artwork.'

Beautifully written and illustrated with Jill Murphy's characteristic warmth and subtle humour!
The second book, featuring Mrs Bear and Baby Bear, is 'Whatever Next!', which has also become a picture book classic.'

24 shiny high quality pages in the popular 2-page spread format.
Clear text is on the left hand page with the main pictures on the right hand page, so suitably predictable for the younger reader who is eager to turn the page!
Wonderfully illustrated throughout, from the cover illustration with Mrs Bear in her hairnet, this book is further enhanced by meaningful facial expressions! The black and white drawings further add to this delightful book!

Example of text:-

'The hour was late.

Mr Bear was tried
Mrs Bear was tired
and
Baby Bear was tired....
...so they all went to bed.

Mrs Bear fell asleep.
Mr Bear didn't.
Mrs Bear began to snore.
"SNORE," went Mrs Bear.
"SNORE, SNORE, SNORE."
"Oh NO!" said Mr Bear,
"I can't stand THIS."
So he got up and went to
sleep in Baby Bear's room......'

But it is too noisy in there, too......so poor Mr Bear puts on his dressing gown, takes his pillow and goes here and there, on what proves to be rather a long mission to find somewhere peaceful to sleep......

A favourite with my 18-month-old
I've got an old board-book version of this, and it's become a major favourite of my son's (sharing equal ranking with 'Peepo' and 'The World's Best Dive Sites'!). The story is great - especially the ending, where a cup of tea in bed makes all well again! - and when reading it to my son we have great fun doing all the noises together (you should hear his snore!). I also enjoy the modern elements that make it relevant to kids today: baby bear lying in bed making aeroplane noises, for example, and the way that Mr Bear ends up trying to sleep in the car; these surprised me given the tendency of many kids' book to shun the modern. A lovely book.

We read this over and over and over
My 18mnth old loves this book, knows all the noises, picks out all the picture details and can even do a good impression of 'Oh no! said Mr Bear'. A great companion to Whatever Next (also 5 star). Please Jill write/draw some more.