The Bear, the Book, and the Blanket

THE BEAR, THE BOOK, AND THE BLANKET is a cute picture book about bedtime. A baby is getting ready for bed but unwilling to sleep with his bear, book, and blanket. Luckily, the bunnies are there and ready to help! They search for each of the items to help the baby. The story ends as they too settle down with a bear, book, and blanket - with a reveal that the baby is back up on the back inside cover.

What I loved: This is quite a colorful adventure with plenty of fun illustrations throughout. The bunnies are not all named within the story, but they do have their names included on the front inside cover. There are some fun subplots with a bunny wanting the keep the bear, and the bunnies removing all the books off the shelves. The story is narrated in conversation to the bunnies, which adds to the fun. A QR code on the back of the book allows you to get the audiobook version of this picture book so that children can listen and explore by themselves.

The font is clear and easy to read throughout. This is a really simple story with only a few phrases on each page. As such, it will work well for toddlers and preschoolers.

What left me wanting more: As a small thing, this does not show safe sleep as the baby is settling down with several items in the crib at bedtime, and while it is fiction, of course, it is always great to see safe sleep depicted.

Final verdict: THE BEAR, THE BOOK, AND THE BLANKET is a silly and cute picture book about settling down for bedtime.

The Bear, The Book, and The Blanket by Lou Peacock is an absolute delight for bedtime reading. The story centers around a baby who needs three essential things—a beloved bear, a book, and a blanket—before going to sleep.
The super cute illustrations are a major highlight, especially the ten bunnies who make the story come alive. My family and I loved that the bunnies, with their "B" names, are shown inside the front cover, each dressed in unique outfits. This little detail added a personal touch and immediately connected us to the characters.
The story leaves plenty of room for interactivity, as it’s written as if the reader is helping the bunnies find baby’s bedtime comfort items. The bunnies' wacky antics in their search for the bear, the book, and the blanket make the illustrations enjoyable for kids and fun to talk about together. My son had a blast pointing out what he saw in the pictures, and the grownups enjoyed the humorous take on what it really takes to get a little one ready for sleep. However, my family’s favorite part of the book was the twist depicted inside the back cover (I don’t want to spoil the joke before you read)!
In addition to being a great bedtime read, this book is a fantastic choice for a "B"-themed lesson or storytime. With so many words beginning with the letter "B" incorporated into the story—from the bunnies' names to the objects they search for—it's both educational and entertaining.
Overall, The Bear, The Book, and The Blanket is a bedtime winner that’s a laugh for the whole family.