Who Can Sleep When a Book Is This Much Fun?
This Is Not a Sleepy Bear Book is pure joy! What begins as a cozy hibernation tale quickly bursts into a laugh-out-loud woodland adventure full of wild surprises—from disco balls to jazz flutes—that will have kids (and parents) giggling with every page turn.
With pitch-perfect pacing and playful twists, Brian Gehrlein turns the familiar “time for bed” tale on its head—into a full-blown, pre-hibernation party. The laughs build with every trip back to Bear’s den—each scene louder and more delightfully unpredictable than the last.
“Written with wit, warmth, and hilarious charm, Brian’s words pair perfectly with Jennifer’s calming and grounding earth-toned art. She beautifully balances the quiet hush of the woods with the joyful, party-fueled chaos inside Bear’s den. Together, they offer something especially meaningful for children growing up in a digital world—a gentle invitation to slow down, look closely, and feel the laughter and warmth of the forest. Gehrlein and Harney create pure read-aloud magic—perfect for bedtime, storytime, or any moment that calls for laughter.” — Andrea Koehle Jones, Children’s Book Author and Environmental Education Advocate
I’m thrilled to support Brian’s latest book—not only because he’s an incredible author and teacher, but also because he’s an outstanding editor. He completely understood my vision for Don’t Let Ned Plant a Tree!—and his guidance helped bring it to life. The book has since been acquired by a Canadian publisher and is slated for a spring 2026 release.
It was an honour to be a part of the Advanced Reader Team. Wishing Brian Gehrlein, Jennifer Harney, Jennifer Mattson of Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers huge success with the launch of This Is Not a Sleepy Bear Book—and endless giggles for readers everywhere.
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