How do you feel about checking in to a luxury Hibernation Hotel to sleep for the winter? This is the amusing story of a bear who did just that although he soon discovers that it’s not where you stay that solves the problem of not being able to sleep, it’s who you’re sleeping with.
The Story: Bear is trying to sleep but his cave is too full of sleeping friends so he checks into a luxury hotel. He takes advantage of all the facilities but he still can’t get comfortable and go to sleep. Bear decides to order something to eat from room service but he gets a huge surprise when the bellboy wheels in his trolley…
Bear’s snoring, smelly friends are keeping him awake so he drives to a hotel for some peace and quiet. His hotel room has a wonderfully big bed and all the home comforts that a bear could possibly want but something just doesn’t feel right, Bear becomes especially sad when he watches television but ultimately the friends that he has escaped from are the friends who help him get to sleep.
Laura Brennla’s illustrations are full of amusing details, my daughter’s favourite illustration shows Bear drinking a ‘huge slurp of water’ – we won’t spoil the surprise and tell you where he got it from! We had read the story a few times before we realised that there is a clue to the ending in the illustration showing Bear driving to the hotel, it was a real aha! moment which led us to scour the illustrations for more clues!
Hibernation Hotel would be a great book to use in the classroom to introduce children to the concept of hibernation and which animals hibernate during the winter. Bear’s friends include a tortoise and a hedgehog and children could be encouraged to research other animals that hibernate or, as we discovered after reading this story, don’t hibernate but just sleep a lot like Bear’s friends Skunk and Racoon.
This humorous story is perfect for bedtime. Bear does finally get to sleep but you’ll have to read the story to find out where and with who!
Age Range: 3 +
Author: John Kelly / Illustrator: Laura Brenlla
Thank you to Little Tiger Press for sending us a copy of Hibernation Hotel. It’s the perfect read for this time of year 🙂
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