Harold Hates to Hibernate (A Harold the Bear Story) by Vern Kousky
ISBN: 0593712331
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Harold Hates to Hibernate is the follow-up to Harold Loves His Woolly Hat. Though you don’t have to read the first, readers will get much more depth from the second book after reading the first: In Harold Loves His Woolly Hat, Harold is bothered by a crow who stole his hat and he tries everything to get it back with no luck. Fed up, Harold climbs to the crow’s nest to steal his hat back—but when Harold gets to the nest he discovers the crow was stealing everything for its babies and Harold leaves his hat to keep them warm and comfortable.

In Harold Hates to Hibernate, Harold is now friends with the baby crows who’ve grown up. He loves playing with them but as the days get shorter he has less and less time to play and it’s nearing time to hibernate — but Harold isn’t ready. He’s worried the crows will forget him while he sleeps the winter away and is determined to stay awake. The crows get Harold everything he asks for to stay awake but he finally starts to succumb to hibernating. As he starts to drift off, he thanks them and wishes they won’t forget him and just before he falls asleep the crows bring him back his favorite hat to show him how much he means to them.

Readers will relate to not wanting to give up playtime and will have fun guessing if Harold ends up hibernating or not. They’ll also enjoy the connections to the first book and the way Harold and the crows have become friends. Kids and adults alike will be touched by this fantastic, but not heavy-handed, representation of friendship and the beautiful illustrations. Highly recommend for K-3 and as an addition to any seasonal unit. Five stars!

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner