“In a cave in the woods, / in his deep, dark lair, / through the long, cold winter / sleeps a great brown bear . . . The cold winds howl / and the night sounds growl. But the bear snores on.” And snores. And snores. One animal after another seeks shelter from those howling winds and a raging storm inside bear’s cozy cave. Each has something to share, and soon there’s a party, but bear sleeps through it all…until a tiny fleck of pepper from the pot of stew they are cooking wafts up his nose. Oh-oh. Aachoo! Karma Wilson’s rollicking text delights young readers with its rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. Jane Chapman’s acrylic illustrations evoke the warmth and coziness of the cave and the cold blue-white chill of the night storm outside and are especially effective from a distance, making this a great choice to share as read-aloud with groups of children. Highly Commended, 2003 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 3-6)