Bedtime for Bear by Brett Helquist - ESSENTIAL

Helquist, Brett Bedtime for Bear 32 pg. Harper Collins, 2011. PICTURE BOOK. $16.99. Bear has just nestled down for the winter when his rascally raccoon friends beg him to come out and play. Finally convinced, they have a rip roaring time, and in the end it is the raccoons who have to beg bear to go back in to sleep. 
The playful text and bubble word format make it visually appealing and entertaining to read. Helquist's illustrations (also the illustrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events) are delightful and energetic with some full two page spreads. EL-ESSENTIAL. Whitney, Library-Teacher.