BIG BAD BRUCE

by Bill Peet ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1977

Big Bad Bruce, who finds cheap thrills rolling boulders at small animals, is shrunk from bear- to chipmunk-size after annoying a small witch. The now-huge rabbits and quails of Forevergreen Forest have their revenge on the former bully before he's rescued by Roxy the witch. ""She soon grew fond of the tiny bear,"" so she adopts him and keeps him tiny. Though we're set up for a repentant Bruce, ""little bears have short memories,"" and the last page finds him happily rolling pebbles at insects in a flower-forest. While decidedly a moral tale, it's subtly done; the message comes across, not by punishing the bully, but through a sympathetic look at his victims. Peet's workmanlike illustration is part of the calculated appeal.

Pub Date: March 1, 1977

ISBN: 0395329221

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1977

Categories: CHILDREN'S