ALA Booklist (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2003)

What happens after a bear breaks the fast of hibernation? In this rhyming follow-up to Bear Snores On (2002), Bear emerges as a lean, mean, eating machine. His animal friends help him find food, and he munches his way through the forest. As his grub crawl proceeds, both the words of the refrain (But the bear wants more!) and Bear himself increase in size. Other friends busily plan a party for Bear back at his lair. Later all the friends must work together to pry the overfed, very stuck Bear from the entrance to his den. The story is fun and funny, but it takes a backseat to the illustrations. Chapman's acrylic paintings have a freshly washed look that conveys the newness of spring, and they are layered with delightful comic touches--Bear's increasing girth, his friends' bemused expressions, and the flower crown he wears at his picnic, after which he falls asleep. Now Bear is full, full, full . . . but . . . his friends want more. An appealing romp about springtime and friendship.

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

A recently hibernating bear keeps eating and expanding but is still hungry. His animal friends intend to fête him with food in his den, but he gets stuck trying to enter through his door. Only adults will resent the straight-from-Milne twist; kids will eagerly anticipate the rhyming tale's refrain--"and he still / wants / more!"--and devour the vibrant acrylics in sumptuous greens and browns.

Kirkus Reviews

Bear's ravenous appetite is the focus of this rollicking follow-up to Wilson's Bear Snores On (2001). Upon awakening from his winter siesta, Bear is beset by a voracious hunger. Although his woodland friends attempt to assuage the bruin's cravings, Mouse's offering of berries, Hare's clover, and Badger's catch of the day do little to quiet the grumbling of the behemoth's belly. While Bear is out foraging, the rest of his friends prepare a feast fit for a famished friend of epic proportions. Wilson's cheerfully irreverent tale pays homage to another hungry bear, known for his penchant for honey, in a tongue-in-cheek scene where the formerly svelte Bear can no longer fit through his den's opening to reach the tantalizing meal inside. Satiated at last by his friend's bountiful springtime picnic, the satisfied Bear soon drifts off to sleep. Wilson's use of the repetitive refrain "Bear wants more" teases readers' appetites for more—of the story—neatly building the anticipation for the tale's surprise ending. The sing-song rhythm of the rhyming couplets lends sprightliness to the ebullient tale. Chapman's acrylic paintings sparkle with the freshness of the vernal season; vibrant, varying shades of greens drench the pages in a riot of blossoming hues. Bear is rendered as appealing as ever; this lovable lump of soft brown fur is as cozy and comforting as a well-loved teddy. Fans will enjoy the fun of revisiting with this convivial pack of forest friends. (Picture book. 3-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Several books follow the footsteps of earlier titles. The ursine hero from the best-selling Bear Snores On emerges from hibernation in Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson, illus. by Jane Chapman. The """"more"""" he wants is food, of course: """"When springtime comes,/ in his warm winter den/ a bear wakes up/ very hungry and thin!"""" His friends are happy to indulge him, but when he heads home, stuffed, he's in for a surprise.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-In this appealing follow-up to Bear Snores On (S & S, 2002), it is spring, Bear is awake, and he is hungry. Several of his animal friends take him to places where he can get food, "But the bear wants more!" Finally, he heads home, where others have organized a party for him, but he has eaten so much that he gets stuck in his own doorway. After being pried out, he eats more and falls asleep, but now "his friends want more!" The rollicking, rhyming text flows smoothly, and the repeated refrain will have youngsters chiming right in. The acrylic illustrations are brightly colored, and the creatures, although they are sweetly appealing and use tools, look distinctly like wild animals; the details are wonderful. The layout alternates between full-bleed spreads and single-page pictures, some of which are also full bleed, while others are in a circle. This format works well to move the story along, and encourages page turns. This simple, gentle story, with its short text, large graphics, and reference to hibernation, will work well in storytimes for young preschoolers, and will fill teachers' demands for seasonal tales.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.