Today’s Picture Book Postcard is from Owl of This Is Not a Sleepy Bear Book.
The classic “bear hibernation” story is turned on its head in this hilarious read-aloud full of surprises, perfect for a cozy winter read and story time year-round!
This was supposed to be a sleepy bear book—a gentle, quiet story. Until Bear opened his cozy, quiet den, only to find—A DJ and a disco ball? Guitar riffs and a booming bass? A random jazz flute? Stop all these shenanigans! THIS ISN’T WHAT HAPPENS IN A SLEEPY BEAR BOOK!
Things only get noisier and more chaotic with every turn of the page. Winking at storytime conventions in a way that’ll crack kids up, This Is Not a Sleepy Bear Book combines classic bedtime story tropes with visual, giggle-worthy surprises that offer a memorable twist and a great read-aloud.
This is Not a Sleepy Bear Book
Author: Brian Gehrlein
Illustrator: Jennifer Harney
Publisher: Little, Brown
Publication Date: November 11, 2025
Once upon a time, I was a librarian and one winter day, while shelving picture books, I noticed a fair amount of wintery, hibernation-themed bear books. These books were lovely and lyrical. Gentle and quiet. That got me curious about a book that paraded itself around as one of those books…while also being basically the exact opposite.
– Author Brian Gehrlein
About Author Brian Gehrlein
Brian Gehrlein is the author of The Book of Rules, illustrated by Tom Knight. He’s also the creator of the website Picture Book Spotlight. Brian teaches high school English and lives in a cozy den in Liberty, Missouri, with his wife, Katherine; two sons, Peter and Albee; and two corgis. If you’re not currently taking a long winter’s nap, Brian invites you to find him on social media @briangehrlein or say hello at pbspotlight.com. Happy hibernation!
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