Margot: 3 Years
Bedtime for Bear – By Bonny Becker
This book is a personal favorite of mine, and one that I have been meaning to send to all of my past college roommates, camp cabin-mates, and siblings, as the character “Bear” and I are truly kindred spirits. By that I mean we’re both pretty difficult to live with (lol, but seriously).
The protagonist, Bear, is introverted, particular, and emotionally high-maintenance. When the book opens, a doorbell rings, and Bear is suddenly reminded that he had invited his beloved friend Mouse to sleep over. It soon becomes clear that Mouse is the antithesis of Bear, and readers may wonder whose mom forced this match in the first place. After greeting mouse, and spending a few pages spiraling into some pretty poorly-concealed regret and denial about the situation, Bear starts to loosen up a little. Soon, however, it’s time for bed and Bear commences compulsively reminding Mouse about his requirement of total silence after lights out. If you know me, this probably sounds a little familiar.
Naturally, total silence does not ensue and, despite his goading of Bear, Mouse still comes out on top as the hero of the story. He not only puts up with Bear’s infuriating eccentricities, but also rises to the occasion of providing support when it becomes clear that Bear’s particularities are really just a mask for his fear and vulnerability.
I often tear up when I read children’s books to my daughter (much to her chagrin), and this one was no different. While I am sure it is intended to be a cute story about an unlikely friendship and the importance of protecting the hearts (and egos) of those we love, it hit a little deeper for me.
I spent a lot of time, especially in college, attempting to mask my anxiety. I had one friend even tell me that she envied my “laid back” attitude: a comment which made me actually laugh out loud. In college, and even today, the night is always the hardest, as literal darkness tends to welcome the figurative kind with open arms.
Anne Frank once said, “look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” This image of a tiny light in the nighttime sounds a lot like what Becker’s brave Mouse is for the apprehensive Bear, and what my husband, family, and good friends are for me. While my daughter loves this book because Mouse is “silly” and my husband always puts on a show when he gets to Bear’s trademark line of “WILL THIS TORMENT NEVER CEASE,” I love it because it shows us that real friends will find you in the darkness, even if you’re trying to hide.
Max: 14 Months
Ditty Bird: Children’s Songs
My mom sent me this one and, in all honesty, when I opened it, I raised a metaphorical fist in her direction. It has batteries. And it sings. In an Australian accent.
Despite these initial warning signs, I was completely won over by this book when I watched Margot spend a WHOLE 5 MINUTES teaching Max how to press the buttons, turn the pages, and pat his head at the right point of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” He bounced, and clapped and didn’t take his eyes off of her the entire time. When this book broke (which is a testament to how poorly we treated it, not the quality of craftsmanship) and my kids were back to body-slamming one another into walls, I immediately purchased a second copy. In short, I highly recommend it.
The Bear and Mouse Series:
Ditty Bird: Children’s Songs (and others!)
