School Library Journal
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PreS-Gr 2-A loving family of bears starts out on a midnight quest to prove to baby bear that there are no scary monsters in the woods. Along the way, a series of mishaps causes the family members to disappear one by one, leaving only baby bear and brave daddy bear, who is just a tiny bit rattled. It is baby bear who discovers, at last, that there was nothing to be afraid of all along. This is a fun and exciting picture book that will cause anyone afraid of monsters in the night to giggle. The rhyming text is perfect for allowing listeners to make predictions and supply the rhyme. In conjunction with the predictable rhyming phrases, the full-page illustrations move the story forward and aid in identifying context clues. Created in mixed media, the muted tones of blue and green set the ideal scene for a late-night walk in the woods. The animal characters are adorably humorous and keep the story light, especially for young readers who may share the same fears. Not only is this simply a fun picture book to add to a collection, it can be used to comfort and reassure those wary of the dark of night. VERDICT This is one selection that kids will reach for over and over again. A must purchase.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Any fear can be faced down when you're with the ones you love. In a cozy cave in the woods, a bear family has just settled down to bed. But a loud roar wakes Baby Bear, and he can't sleep until he knows what made it. So, off they all tromp through the forest. Sounds made by a deer, a frog, and a crow stop the family in its tracks, but when their sources are pointed out, Daddy laughs and says, "You see?There's no monster out there. / And anyway, nothing can frighten a bear." But unbeknownst to him, his family has been dwindling, clever page turns working with the rhymes to prompt readers to chime in: Mom's caught in a tree, Ben falls in the stream, and Grace is stuck in the muck. When father and youngest finally realize they are alone, they do get frightened. But all turns out right in the end, the five bears linking hands to return to bed and discover the snorer in their midst. Metcalf's mixed-media illustrations use starlight, a full moon, and Daddy Bear's lantern to illuminate the night. The scribbly-furred cartoon bears are not scary at all, and the other forest denizens are equally cute and nonthreatening; even the sight that so frightens Daddy and Baby Bear will not frighten readers. Gives caregivers a new response in their arsenal of answers to the nighttime question "What was that noise?" (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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Baby Bear is asleep in bed when a resounding roar awakens him. Despite Mommy Bear's assurance that "there aren't any monsters," Baby Bear isn't sure. His need for proof sends his family of five into the forest to search for monsters. Dale's rhymes bound along steadily, and her use of repetition, ellipses, and emphasized words builds light suspense: "So all the bears stopped-could a monster be near?/ But out of the darkness there trotted a... deer! Daddy Bear insists that "nothing can frighten a bear," but the rest of the family is startled by the sudden appearances of animals, creating comic irony that even young readers will appreciate. Metcalf's mixed-media cartoons effectively lighten the monster-driven plot. Her bears have vibrant brown fur, contrasting with the landscape's cool blue and green tones, and her charcoal-like shading gives depth to the forest scenery. Daddy Bear's confidence is shaken when the other family members start to disappear, one by one, but Dale keeps the mood funny and light, right up to the revelation of what startled Baby Bear to begin with. Ages 3-7. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

A five-member bear family ventures from their cozy cave deep in the woods out into the night to find the source of a monstrous roar that has awakened Baby Bear. The bears are startled on three occasions not by monsters, but by a deer, a frog, and a crow. Each time, without the others noticing, one bear gets stuck behind, until it's only Daddy and Baby Bear. When the other three reappear covered in leaves and muck, Daddy and Baby Bear mistake them for monsters before realizing who they are, returning to the safety of their snug beds and later discovering that the perceived roar was actually Baby Bear himself snoring. While the story is low-key and the humor is subtle, there is a pleasing ebb and flow to the steadily paced action. The illustrations, awash in soft browns and muted colors, feature nothing remotely menacing. Reassuring and comforting, this carries an unobtrusive message that fears are often more imaginary than real, and the rollicking rhyming text encourages listeners to help tell the story.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2018 Booklist