Little Bear becomes a master of equivocation to avoid confronting his fears. He's not frightened by the night—he just isn't tired. He's not scared of the water—he just feels cold. And he's not afraid of bees—he just doesn't like honey. ``Scaredy Bear, Scaredy Bear!'' his siblings tease. Then, when a tiny cub stuck up in a tree calls out for help, Little Bear's own fears melt away. He rescues the wee bear and after being praised by its parent, feels confident enough to take on a buzzing hive and get himself some honey. Fuzzy watercolors give the book a suitably cozy feel, and even the bees—with their big red clown noses and stingers shaped like chocolate chips—seem more likely to snuggle than scare. Predictable cuddliness, but comforting to preschoolers about to commence their own foraging. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-531-09546-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1997
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An earnest attempt to provide a nonviolent alternative to the familiar cumulative British folk tale. The dog here ``nips'' the pig, while the ox becomes a horse to be spurred by a rider who is lassoed by the rope. Meanwhile, in Carmi's innovative illustrations, almost everything is personified with an expressive face—the stile, some quizzical flowers, a haystack that is obviously only pretending to be asleep. Well, not the rope, which the rat still bites, nor the stick, which still gets burned. Too many compromises are required: with logic, with cadence, with tradition. Sorry, guys, this one just doesn't work. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Oct. 15, 1992
ISBN: 0-8234-0970-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1992
Roslyn Rutabaga wakes up one morning with a grand plan: She wants to dig the Biggest Hole on Earth. Maybe it will even lead to the South Pole! She crunches down her carrot flakes and sets to work. But before she digs very far, an angry worm pops up and yells at her for digging up his front yard. Then she accidentally wakes a grouchy mole from his slumber. And finally, just when she thinks she’s found a Triceratops’s big-toe bone, a grumbling dog comes and snatches his dinner away. Roslyn flops back into the hole, defeated. She’s never going to meet a penguin now. But then her dad walks by and marvels at her work. The hole may not have reached the South Pole, but it does happen to be the perfect place for a picnic! With smudgy brown dirt flying and bits of carrots, leaves, boots and bugs (and at one point suggestive Chinese characters) strewn about in Gay’s torn-paper–and–mixed-media renderings, readers will find much to relish in the illustrations. Roslyn Rutabaga is one darned determined—and adorable—bunny. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-88899-994-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2010
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