Bear can’t sleep.
Did you hear that? Did you feel that? What was it?
It wasn’t a hungry giant or a blood-sucking spider or a fire-breathing dragon because there is NO SUCH THING…
Is there?
SHORT-LISTED: Book of the Year: Early Childhood 2021
SHORT-LISTED: Young Australian Best Book Awards (YABBA) 2022
SHORT-LISTED: Red Dot Book Awards 2022
Published by Allen&Unwin
This book is a delight from beginning to end. The illustrations are bold and fun. Night-time eyes dot the black backgrounds, enhancing the mood of the story. The reversed text stands out, with feature words in capitals for emphasis. The expressions and physical nuance of the characters reveal their feelings, while the dialogue between the two characters moves the story forward. Themes of imagination, monsters and friendship are woven into the story, along with a surprise ending that will delight young readers. This is a well-designed and high-quality production.
CBCA judging panel