The Bedtime Bear
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Join Bedtime Bear as he journeys to a variety of places on his way to bed, in this superb lift-the-flap book for young children. The tale begins in the jungle, where Bedtime Bear hitches a lift with a friendly tiger on a bicycle. Travel onwards to the North Pole, where a sheep in a jeep zooms out from behind a snowdrift to take Bear on the next part of the journey. Stop for a snack at the Mouse Motel and turn the wheel to reveal delightfully disgusting menu choices, such as soapy sausages and worms on toast. The characters are reunited on the final page in the form of cuddly toys belonging to a little boy who is ready for bed.
The distinctive illustrations by Axel Scheffler are a visual feast, bursting with colour and humorous detail. Wacky rhyming text invites children to search each page for flaps to lift, tabs to pull and wheels to turn, helping them to develop their observational and fine motor skills. Many of the mechanical components are sandwiched between the double-thickness pages, which helps to protect them from over-enthusiastic handling. This entertaining, interactive book is sure to become a firm bedtime favourite.