Bloom asks readers how they prepare for bed—from putting on jammies to asking for one more hug—then counts down to bedtime from ten terribly tired tigers to one really weary wombat. Each animal demonstrates a different bedtime ritual—skunks somersault into bunks and elephants curl up with their trunks—adding original and inventive rhymes and a clever counting-backward structure to the bedtime book genre. The lyrical, rhyming text combines with dreamy, colorful artwork to provide a perfect way for children to wind down from an active day in a book sure to become a new bedtime classic.

SLJ  OCTOBER POP PIC PreS- ...With wonderfully alliterative sentences and rich vocabulary for each of the creatures from 10 to one, the narrative ends by assuring readers that what other sleepyheads do is “fall fast asleep, just like you.” The illustrations, done in pastel, have an impressionistic, dreamlike quality, with jewel-tone backgrounds that are perfectly suited for this bedtime book.

VERDICT Rhyme, alliteration, and cozy images make this excellent selection ideal for read-alouds. –Ramarie Beaver, Plano Public Library System, TX

Publishers Weekly

“What do you do to get ready for bed?” asks Bloom in this cozy bedtime counting book. “Do you brush your teeth? Have a story read?”...While there’s something of a tongue-twisting quality to the word-stuffed verse, the soothing blue backgrounds and smudginess of Bloom’s pastels lend a soporific quality to the spreads; one can practically feel the softness of the blankets and beds that the animals curl into. Even those most reluctant to go to sleep may find themselves happily succumbing. Ages 2–5. (Oct.)

KIRKUS - A bedtime-book/concept-book mashup for little ones.

Sleepy anthropomorphic animals clad in pajamas populate Bloom’s latest offering, illustrated in her signature soft pastels. Dark backgrounds suggest nighttime ... the illustrations depict various creatures performing routines of tooth-brushing, book reading, and so on. After these introductory pages comes the question “What do other sleepyheads do when their busy day is through?” and here’s where the book shifts, adding counting concepts to the standard bedtime narrative. Alliteration and unusual animal choices add textual appeal as first, “ten terribly tired tigers tiptoe to their beds” and then newts, elephants, sun bears, and others count readers down to “one really weary wombat [that] yawns…” ...

Count on this as a solid bedtime-book choice. (Picture book. 2-4)

Bear wishes he could fly. He wants to swoop and glide and feel the wind in his fur. Yet no matter how hard he flaps his arms, he can’t get off the ground. Goose and Fox offer support, but Bear remains earthbound—until he hears music. Suddenly, Bear is gliding and swooping and light on his feet. In Suzanne Bloom’s lovable story, the seventh in the popular Goose and Bear series, Bear discovers that not getting what you want isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it may lead to something surprising.

"The splendid friends boogie down… Both at the start and later on, big, fantastically shaggy Bear really cuts the rug in Bloom's elementally simple pastels… Bear in particular takes a star turn in the loving trio's latest welcome outing." —Kirkus Reviews

Sometimes Bear likes quiet time by himself. But his friend Fox has a very different idea of what “quiet” means. Can Bear’s quiet aloneness and Fox’s noisy togetherness ever result in a satisfying compromise? This simple and endearing story about friends learning to understand each other’s differences is filled with Suzanne Bloom’s gentle humor and trademark pastel illustrations.

" . . . This title offers a winning combination of earnestness and flippancy, sweetness, and saltiness. Readers will gain insight into the rewards of contemplation and quiet. The book will inspire rich discussions about what it means to be alone and together and what the experience of "alone togetherness" might mean for friends." —School Library Journal

**Bank Street College of Education,
Best Children's Books of the Year**

Goose has an important message for Bear, and he asks Fox to deliver it. But Fox has her mind on other things—which only leaves Bear to wonder and worry. Fortunately, in the end, these friends are as good at forgiving as they are at forgetting. Fox gets a starring role in this warmhearted and beautifully simple story about the meaning of being responsible. Featuring gentle humor and charm, this latest entry in Suzanne Bloom’s acclaimed Goose and Bear series will help children build foundations for friendship, empathy, and cooperation.

 " . . . The single, short bits of dialogue on each spread are practically superfluous, as the characters' placement in the minimally detailed scenes and Bear's body language clearly reveal both plot and emotional arc. . . Bear looks more than ever like a huggable bundle of shag in this gentle reminder that failures to communicate happen and are not of necessity punishable offenses." —Kirkus Reviews

Fox loves surprises! When she discovers Goose and Bear making gifts, she hopes that one of the presents is for her. But what if it isn't? Even though hope may turn to disappointment, nothing can stop Fox from making her own spectacular surprise for Goose and Bear. In the end, Fox is overjoyed to find she hasn't been forgotten after all. With her trademark simplicity and humor, Suzanne Bloom shows children once again what it means to be a true friend with this new and utterly charming Goose and Bear and Fox! - story.

 Bloom’s text is perfectly age-appropriate both in terms of mechanics (straightforward storytelling, simple vocabulary, short sentence structure) and content...The playful back-   and-forth between the characters is read aloud gold...  There are numerous uses for this satisfying book: as an easy reader, as a read-aloud selection for a holiday-themed storytime, as an inspirational springboard to a session of homemade gift-making, or as a holiday gift itself (perhaps packaged with paper-heart confetti). Readers who latch onto this adorable animal trio via this title may want to also seek out Bloom’s previous books about Bear, Goose, and Fox (What About Bear?, BCCB 4/10, etc.). No matter how or why it’s read, though, kids are likely to clamor at book’s end, like Fox, “Let’s do it again!”    Jeannette Hulick, Reviewer   The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB),

http://bccb.lis.illinois.edu/

Who will fix the friendship? It’s playtime and Bear and Goose are having fun. Then Little Fox joins in and somebody gets left out. Sound familiar? The dilemma of choosing one friend over another is one of childhood’s classic problems. Someone’s feelings are bound to get hurt. But as this gentle story shows, the solution lies in including friends, not excluding them. As in her previous Bear and Goose stories, Suzanne Bloom’s latest book deals with a familiar aspect of friendship: being left out.

 * "... Fans of Goose and Bear from A Splendid Friend, Indeed (2005) and Treasure (2007, both Boyds Mills) will enjoy having them back." --School Library Journal, Starred Review

"... As before, Bloom poses shaggy figures against a rich blue color field and artfully uses body language rather than text (which runs to fewer than 100 words) to crank up the emotional intensity...Another splendid outing, indeed." --Kirkus Reviews

*UKLA Children's Book Awards  Ages 3-6, 2014 - Longlist*

Bear and Goose are back. This time Goose believes that the paper in Bear's hand could only be a treasure map. And X marks the spot but for what? Soon Bear and Goose are on a wild goose chase for hidden treasure, in this warm and adorable follow-up to the award-winning A Splendid Friend, Indeed.

"Some books are just plain fun. Treasure is one of those books. With limited vocabulary, hold, colorful illustrations, expressive characters and a cute storyline, this book is sure to be a hit with the little folks in your school. ... The voice of each animal jumps off the page and right into the reader's heart. This book would be a quick and fun read aloud for grades K-1, and an intriguing lesson prompt for 2nd graders."

     —Library Media Connection

Goose&Bear Have traveled more widely than I have...so far.

A Splendid Friend, Indeed        ... Danish  Korean (2 separate editions)     also published in the UK

Treasure                                      ...   French  German

What About Bear?                    ...  Danish  German    also published in the UK

Alone Together                          ...  Korean

A Mighty Fine Time Machine   ... Korean

The children are busily, gleefully preparing a grand feast: puddle-water soup, mud pie, and a dandelion-and-dirt dessert. Yum! The young chefs are creating these tasty dishes for their special guests, who chirp, wiggle, and hop. Suzanne Bloom, author of the best-selling Goose and Bear books, including the award-winning A Splendid Friend, Indeed, has created a delightful celebration of the joys of imagination and the fun of getting dirty. The cheerful, repetitive text makes this a perfect book for reading aloud.

"This celebration of imaginative, outdoor fun is a tasty treat."   School Library Journal

"PreS—Three preschool friends cook up a creative garden party menu. Malik makes a "yummy mud pie," Suki stirs a pot of soup "made from puddle water and pebbles, with a splash of raindrops," and Dylan's dessert features twigs and dandelions. The repeated refrain of "Will [s]he eat it?" is answered with, "Oh no, no, no." Their concoctions are for the enjoyment of the chickadees, frogs, and worms. Bloom's sunny, naive watercolor illustrations show the children joyfully playing in the dirt while a shaggy dog and a black cat watch with curiosity. After they work up a real appetite, Nana calls them for a picnic lunch.  —Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

"A Family for Jamie: An Adoption Story is a bit unique in that it talks not only about the child’s story, but about the waiting parents-to-be–their emotions, their preparations, their long waiting and dreaming.

Softly colored illustrations—also done by Bloom—convey the warm yet wishful mood very well. The illustrations are also fun to go back to—many details can be found on a second or third look. For example, the expression on a rag doll’s face is lonely as she waits for a child to play with. Other scenes show children playing together with a few comical details, such as one toddler’s huge flip-flops and a child who insists on wearing a raincoat when others are in shorts...

The lengthy wait is cleverly conveyed by a look at what Molly and Dan do in the winter, the spring, and the summer while they wait and plan. Molly wonders if their child will enjoy their hobbies. “I don’t know,” Dan says. “Everybody likes to do different things.” This subtly reminds adoptive parents that we should appreciate our children’s strengths and talents, no matter how different those may be from our own"

Review from Families.com posted on October 27, 2008 by Pam Connell

 Published by Clarkson N. Potter, 1991. Although out of print, you can find gently used copies at online used booksellers.

Today is Tess’s first day of school and her very first ride on a school bus. As a multitude of vehicles—from fire engine to front loader—passes by, Tess eagerly asks, “Is this the bus for us, Gus?”

"PreS-Gr 1-Though the bright watercolors spread against crisp white backgrounds are eye-catching, what really draws children into this book is the repetitive chorus, "Is this the bus for us, Gus?" as the front part of a different vehicle is introduced on every other full-page spread. An older child, growing ever exasperated, kindly explains, "No, Tess. This is a-" (taxi, tow truck, backhoe, etc.). There are other treats for the book's viewers, too. Another child joins the line with every turn of the page and some youngsters will notice that the words "bus stop" occasionally become jumbled. Many readers will enjoy the unspoken story as the newly arrived children and their possessions begin to intermingle. Though the story is deceptively simple, teachers will be able to think of dozens of ways to share this book with preschool and beginning-reader audiences."  Thomas Pitchford, Rosenthal Elementary, Alexandria, LA School Library Journal

Now available in a bilingual edition, this title features short repetitive text...  that is just right for beginning readers in either Spanish or English...a playful, simple vocabulary builder of vehicle terms in both languages, as well as a delightful story.  -From Booklist

Ms. Taffy has just won a pig by answering a radio quiz. And she thinks she has the perfect place on her shelf for a little ceramic pig. But when Ms. Taffy rushes out to claim her prize, she makes an astonishing discovery. Her pig isn't ceramic at all. Ms. Taffy has won a real piglet. Now Ms. Taffy is faced with a number of problems: How will she keep a pig in her third-floor walk-up apartment? How will she feed it? And what will she do when the pig gets bigger? With a little ingenuity and some help from her neighbors, Ms. Taffy sets out to answer the question "Can a pig live happily in the city?"

"The busy, colorful illustrations are heavy on amusing detail, and Serena is a pig with personality.  The artist’s friendly, urban utopia bustles with representatives from a variety of cultures."  School Library Journal

"On Monday, Mrs. Hubbub's class was getting out of line.
She told them to behave or they would all turn into swine."

As the students at school become more rude and rowdy, their hands turn into hooves and their noses turn into snouts! The Pig Lady is called in and recognizes the problem. With her help, the children begin to recall and recite proper manners.

Published in 2002 by Albert Whitman and Co. (K-Gr 2)

"In this wickedly humorous tale about the importance of manners, Bloom
brings the reader into Mrs. Hubbub’s classroom where the children learn an unforgettable lesson in respect." - School Library Journal

The narrator relates in catchy verses how a pig came to live in a farm family's parlor; he made the choice and then caused trouble until his wishes were granted: " He snorted and said, / ' I detest a straw bed / Corn that's unpopped, / Supper called slop, / Mud on my face, / That ramshackle place. ' " He adds that he is lonesome, and that's the argument that wins the day, for the next scene shows him and the narrator cozily perched on the settee, watching TV.

"Riotously colored, intriguingly textured drawings…are exuberant, witty and rampant with homey detail.  This winsome hero is the most Pooh-ish of pigs."  -School Library Journal

"Spectacular!" "Gorgeous!" "Fabulous!" Those are some of the words people use to describe Melissa Parkington's hair, which is long, thick, and so shiny that it seems to sparkle. But Melissa would like to be known for more than her hair. Melissa wants to do something spectacular. But everything she tries doesn't seem to work out. Then one day she discovers that she can do something special--with her hair. Pat Brisson's engaging and thought-provoking story features lively illustrations by Suzanne Bloom.

"Melissa wants to be known for something she is able to accomplish, not just admired for her beautiful hair.”

"Bloom’s illustrations…tell a vigorous tale of youthful engagement in life’s opportunities.” - Children’s Literature, Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

The world is full of great things to be and do. Meet Aliki, Belinda, Chris, and twenty-three more girls who are imagining what they will be when they grow up—from astronaut to zookeeper.

This lively alphabet book features a rhyming text that invites girls to “dream any dream you want to dream.

"...Like the avocations selected by Bunting, Bloom offers readers a broad spectrum of role models, portraying girls in a range of ethnicities, shapes, and physical characteristics... A treasure that should be on every young girl’s bookshelf and maybe on a boy’s as well. (Picture book. 4-8)"  Kirkus

Third street school is buzzing with excitement as the students prepare for a visit from author Amanda Drake. The kids have read all her books. They've hung a welcome banner in the hall and pinned drawings on the classroom walls. Then the big day arrives and Amanda Drake is everything the kids hoped she'd be. She reads stories, and cuddles the animals, and tells the kids what it's like to be a writer. Then one child comes up with an idea: "It would be really cool if you would write a book about your visit to our school." And that's precisely what Amanda Drake does. Eve Bunting's happy book, a Society of School Librarians International Honor Book, is written in playful rhyme and illustrated with zest by Suzanne Bloom.

"Bright splashy watercolors grace the pages of this story." - School Library Journal