An engaging animal tale that may help readers envision possible happy futures after a loss.
A lost grizzly bear gets adopted by an array of new animal friends in this picture book.
Deep in a blue-green and magenta wooded landscape, Grizzly has gotten lost and can’t find home. Exhausted, he sleeps and then awakes to discover plucky yellow-and-pink Bird. Bird expresses concern for his situation and helps Grizzly locate an “abandoned honeycomb” dripping with oodles of golden goo. Having fed him, Bird offers platitudes: “Even when things don’t go our way, if we have gratitude, we can be happy.” Understandably, Grizzly is frustrated by this advice: “I have absolutely lost everything!” Readers may be inclined to agree, but Bird introduces Grizzly to a menagerie of birds, a wolf, squirrels, and a badger and tells the story of her own lonely arrival in the woods and how a found family cared for her. Although his pals can’t help him find his home, Grizzly learns to accept that they are his new family. When some grizzlies show up to catch fish, he makes an unexpected choice. While character interactions deftly model compassion, care, and active listening, Mathew skirts emotional realism—it takes Grizzly a shockingly short time to adapt to the sadness of his loss, and there are no further episodes of nostalgia or longing for what is gone. Barron’s bright, animation-inspired, jewel-tone, lineless digital art, packed with simplified cartoon shapes and dynamic composition, enlivens this enjoyable friendship narrative.
An engaging animal tale that may help readers envision possible happy futures after a loss.Pub Date: May 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-63-752776-4
Page Count: 42
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Review Posted Online: June 7, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
