Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear

When Bear goes into hibernation, his best friend, a bunny named Beatrice, figures it’s just an extended slumber party and eagerly joins him—until she realizes that his kind of slumbering is out of her league. (The scenes in which the bunny tries her best to sleep like a log should resonate with temporary insomniacs.) “Winter is ruined!” Beatrice says, sounding very much a petulant human child—or an adult’s inner child. But with wise counsel and help from a squirrel, Beatrice realizes she can share winter with her friend (who, after all, has never experienced the season) by documenting all the ways she enjoys it. Carnesi (Little Dog Lost) is one of those authors who make storytelling appear effortless and intuitive while conveying a wealth of empathy, personality, and humor. There isn’t a wasted word in her text, and the watercolors brim with good will and just a touch of silliness. Her take on maintaining connection in the face of separation feels both timeless and very much of the moment. Ages 3–6. Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency. (Aug.)