Too Much

Too Much is a picture book for children aged 4 to 9 about a bear who does not want to come out after his long winter sleep, and the friends who find a gentle way to help him.

Winter is over, and Rabbit is looking for her friend Bear. It is spring, and he should be coming out of his cave to roll down the hill with her, and to climb trees with Squirrel. But Bear pulls his blanket over his head. "There's too much of everything out there," he says. "I'm staying in." And he goes back to sleep.

Rabbit and Squirrel ask Fox for help, and Fox has an idea. Instead of pulling Bear out, the three friends decorate the front of his cave with the sweetest-smelling flowers, and they sit by the entrance and talk, loudly enough for Bear to hear, about the green grass, the singing birds and the picnic Fox has baked. Then they leave. One by one, the scent of the flowers, the sunlight and the smell of food draw Bear out, until he finds his friends waiting in a clearing with the biggest picnic ever.

The book shows children a kind way to help a friend who feels overwhelmed: with patience, gentle invitations and no pressure. Bear says sorry for being grumpy, and the friends roll down the hill and climb trees together, as they do every spring. It is a warm story to share at the start of spring, and a way to talk about big feelings.

It is written by Anne Booth and illustrated by Maria Christania, published by Tiny Owl, and it is music-free.

Winter was over, and a little rabbit was looking for her friend. "It's spring," said Rabbit. "Bear has been asleep for months and months. He should be coming out of his cave."

"Go away," said Bear. "There's too much of everything out there. I'm staying in." He pulled the blankets over his head and would not come out.

Squirrel came along. Bear should be coming out to roll down the hill with Rabbit, he said, and to climb trees with him. "Come on, Bear," they called. "We're waiting to play with you!"

"Go away," called Bear. "There's too much of everything out there, and I'm staying in. I'm going back to sleep." And Bear began to snore.

"What are we going to do?" Rabbit asked Squirrel.

"Let's ask Fox," said Squirrel.

So they went to see Fox, and told him how Bear would not come out. "But if Bear won't come out," said Fox, "how can he have his big spring picnic with me?" He thought for a moment. "I think I know what we can do. Come with me."

First, the three friends picked the loveliest, sweetest-smelling flowers they could find and decorated the front of Bear's cave with them. Then they sat around the entrance and talked, so that Bear could hear.

"I do wish Bear would come out with me like he always does," said Rabbit. "His favourite flowers are blooming, and the grass is so green and springy. Rolling down it would be more fun with Bear."

Bear listened.

"I do wish Bear would come out," said Squirrel. "The birds are singing in the forest. Climbing trees would be twice as much fun with Bear."

"I do wish Bear would come and have a picnic with us," said Fox. "I've baked all his favourite things, but it won't be the same without him."

Then the friends went away.

Bear sat up and pushed back his blanket. The scent of the spring flowers had drifted into the cave, and sunlight was making patterns on the floor. Very carefully, he got out of bed and walked slowly to the front of the cave, blinking in the daylight. The birds were singing, the flowers were blooming, the grass was green, and the trees rustled in the breeze. And Bear could smell something delicious.

He put his nose to the ground and followed the smell to a little cake, and ate it in one gulp. His tummy gave a big rumble: he had slept all winter and he was very hungry. He followed his nose again and found a honey sandwich, which melted in his mouth. He wanted more, so he followed his nose round the corner to a clearing in the forest. And there they were: Rabbit, Squirrel and Fox, with the biggest and best picnic ever.

"Hello, Bear," they said. "Welcome back outside!"

"Thank you," said Bear happily. "Sorry I was so grumpy." He sat down to eat the picnic his friends had made for him. Then, after a little rest, Bear and his friends rolled down the hill and climbed trees together, just as they did every spring.