(The picture above isn't actually a part of the story.)        Summary:

Little Bear can’t fall asleep and his mother tells him to listen to the sounds of the forest, which is the way bears have always fallen asleep for the winter. He hears a cricket, the sound of the wind, the creek, an owl and a wolf, one by one. She encourages him to listen and repeat what he hears until he falls asleep. His mom also hears them as she falls asleep too.

 

5/16/2023 Deborah Henderson

I'm thinking there may not be enough variation in the scenes for illustrations. Another thing to think about. Here is the story:

 

Mama Bear was listening to the night sounds while Little Bear got ready for bed. The time had come for their long winter nap.

Ready for bed?” asked Mama Bear.
“I’m not sleepy,” complained Little Bear.

Mama Bear said patiently, “Let the forest sing you to sleep. That is how it has always been done.”

“But I don’t hear anything,” argued Little Bear.

“You must listen very carefully,” Mama Bear replied. “Now tell me, what do you hear.”

 

Little Bear said, “I can hear…

 

the cricket chirping”.

“Good,” she said approvingly. After sitting down in her rocker, Mama Bear asked again,

“What do you hear now, Little Bear?”

Little Bear said, “I can hear…

the wind whispering and
the cricket chirping,

but I’m not sleepy.”

Mama Bear picked up her magazine and flipped a few pages, then said, “What do you hear now, Little Bear?”

Little Bear smiled, “I can hear…

 

the creek splashing
the wind whispering and
the cricket chirping.”

Mama Bear nodded, but Little Bear said, “I still can’t sleep.”

“Just keep still and don’t make a sound,” said Mama Bear softly.” After a short time she asked, “What do you hear now?”

Little Bear said, “I can hear …

the owl hooting,
the creek splashing,
the wind whispering, and
the cricket chirping.”

Little Bear’s eyes started to droop. He scooted down in the bed and closed his

eyes.

Mama Bear whispered, “What do you hear, Little Bear?”

Without opening his eyes, Little Bear said, “I hear…

the wolf howling,
the owl hooting,
the creek splashing,
the wind whispering and
the cricket chirping.”

Mama Bear closed the shutters over the open window, shutting out the light of the moon.

"What do you hear now?” whispered Mama Bear again, as she tucked him in. Little Bear didn’t answer because he was fast asleep, but Mama Bear could still hear…

the wolf howling,
the owl hooting,
the creek splashing,
the wind whispering and
the cricket chirping.

Mama Bear smiled as she lay down on her own soft bed.

The forest still sang its lullaby, because that is how it has always been…

the wolf howling,
the owl hooting,
the creek splashing,
the wind whispering, and
the cricket chirping.

But Mama Bear was fast asleep too.