“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)

One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear's cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on!
See what happens when he finally wakes up and finds his cave full of uninvited guests -- all of them having a party without him!