HEY PRESTO! YOU'RE A BEAR!

by Janosch ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 25, 1980

An orgy of aggressive wish fulfillment. The ""I"" here is a bullying little kid who boasts that he can turn people into animals. When his father comes home, too tired to play, the child turns him into a bear. Then between them, ""we turn the whole room upside down and make a terrible mess--and Mother can't do a thing about it!"" They flood the place playing shipwreck and dress up in Grandma's clothes. (The bear prances in flowered hat, wispy blue gown, and pink panties.) When poor Dad is exhausted the kid forces him to carry him, then to make a circus poster and perform on a bicycle. Before bed, the boy pulls a turnabout and makes Dad wash and brush his teeth. Even when Dad wakes up next morning, no longer a bear, the brat is still yammering at him to get up, get out, and hurry home. And there we leave him, a wild thing untamed and undrained, and apparently still wound up with boorish impulses. There's lots of energy, and a gloating humor in the very small boy dictating to the father/bear. But one waits in vain for any attempt on Janosch's part to resolve the turmoil.

Pub Date: Sept. 25, 1980

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Atlantic/Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1980

Categories: CHILDREN'S