Winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Smarties Prize for Children's Books, Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? is a luscious-as-chocolate tale that should find a place on every pre-school bookshelf. While Big Bear tries to read his Bear Book, Little Bear tries to sleep, but can't. He's scared of the dark. So Big Bear keeps bringing him progressively bigger lanterns. But nothing seems to work, until he leads Little Bear out of the Bear Cave into the dark nights.

NB. There is some debate as to whether Little Bear was really trying very hard to get to sleep. Some of the illustrations seem to show him bouncing around rather a lot. You decide. (Ages 2-5) --Lisa Gee

A big book edition is also available.

In this comforting story about a big bear trying to help a little bear overcome his fear of the dark, both the affectionate humor and the beguiling variations on a repetitive theme are reminiscent of Minarik's classic Little Bear (1957); but this British team gives a fresh flavor to the old formula. For one thing, these bears live in a cave, comfortably furnished but just the site for lurking shadows. Big Bear (who looks like an informally updated version of one of L. Leslie Brooke's amiable Three Bears) is trying to read, but willingly fetches first one and then another and another ever-larger lantern to dispel the dark that troubles the restless little bear; finally, they go into the real dark outside to admire the full moon and Little Bear drifts off to sleep, safe at last in Big Bear's encompassing arms. Waddell's charming narration has the grace and economy of old nursery tales. Using frames of mellow slate blue, Firth sets her pencil and watercolor illustrations beneath gentle arches that suggest the cave's interior, comfortably accommodating the text among vignettes and larger spreads. As in Brooke's illustrations, there are delightful domestic details to explore, But the bears are best of all. Perfect for bedtime, or anytime. (Kirkus Reviews)

【作家简介】

马丁·韦德尔 Martin Waddell（爱尔兰）

1941年出生于北爱尔兰的贝尔费斯特，是爱尔兰知名作家，作品曾多次获得英国史马提斯奖(The Smarties Book Prize)、凯特格林威大奖(The Kate Greenaway Medal)、鹅妈妈大奖等国际知名奖项。作品包括：《小猫头鹰》(Owl Babies)、《月光》，以及与以灵活的线条及巧妙的布局取胜的绘者芭芭拉·弗斯(Barbara Firth)合作的系列图画书：《你睡不着吗？》(Can't you sleep, little bear?)、《做得好，小小熊》(Good job, little bear)、《我们回家吧》Let's go home, little bear；和海伦·奥克森伯瑞(Helen Oxenbury)合作的《可怜的鸭子》(Farmer duck)等。

他取材多半来自小孩日常生活中一个观点或一份心情，而不是戏剧化的冲突事件。他擅长以鲜活的文字经营悠闲的故事旋律，提醒读者：稀松平常的生活片段，正是一点一滴慢慢酝酿亲子的亲密和关怀。

【画家简介】

芭芭拉·弗斯 Barbara Firth（爱尔兰）

Barbara Firth 说她一直很幸运，因为她的兴趣和工作都是绘画。在她三岁时她就开始画动物、植物。十一岁时，全家搬迁到乡下，更使她有机会接触到花花草草。

后来她进入London College of Fashion.学习pattern cutting。毕业后曾在英国著名百货公司 Marks and Spencer 的设计部门工作，后又转到名杂志Vogue上班，负责编织类书的工作。机缘巧遇地她来到了英国最知名绘本出版社Walker Books，在那儿找到了她的最爱--- Natural Histroy。她的作品屡获奖项，和Martin Waddell 合作的Little Bear系列书更广受好评。闲暇之余，她喜欢待在动物园，观察熊的活动和生活行为，也为她的创作找到最好的诠释信息。