PLB 0-8027-8705-3 Brave Bear (24 pp.; $14.95; PLB $14.89; Aug.; 0-8027-8704-5; PLB 0-8027-8705-3): Persistence pays off in this captivating story of a small bear who comes the rescue of a bird fallen from its nest. Despite his uncertainty about being able to reach the top of the tree (“It’s so tall”), the bear presses on, fueled by an ongoing, I-think-I-can pep talk to himself (that may make preschoolers feel bold, for he realistically expresses a few doubts), and by the encouragement of his tiny new friend. Minimal text allows the illustrations to take center stage, for the real beauty of the book is in the wonderful perspectives that offer readers a “bear’s-eye view” of the obstacle he successfully tackles. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-8027-8704-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Walker
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1999
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS
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A small, artless introduction to a terrier with an independent spirit. As soon as he’s old enough to leave his cozy bed, Tucker displays the urge for adventure, learning how to balance on a skateboard, dive off the sofa, and dig deep holes in the snow—all skills that come in handy one winter day when he jumps onto a sled. Down the slope it careens, coming to an abrupt stop that sends him looping into a snow bank. Up rushes a child to cuddle him, followed by his siblings and worried mother. Through it all, Tucker shows not a trace of fear, though he does enjoy all the subsequent attention. With pictures that rival Sandra Boynton’s for clean-lined simplicity, and a text that is not cut down to bare description, this book, similar to John Schoenherr’s Rebel (1995), gives children who are ready for the first step of adventure some reassurance that they won’t be left out in the cold. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-525-46259-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1999
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The perennially popular lift-the-flap format combines with the equally well-received invitation to make animal noises in this pleasing romp through a variety of regions and biomes. An African child on the riverbank asks, “Who can snap?” Lift the flap in the reeds for the answer: “I’m a crocodile. I can!” A duck in a farm pond, a panda in a bamboo grove, a wolf on the tundra and a parrot in an Asian jungle follow in succession, all leading to a final spread that unites all the children: “And we all can sing!” Mockford’s illustrations employ baby-friendly bold, black outlines and vibrant colors. A companion volume, Walk with Me (ISBN: 978-1-84686-179-6), explores animal locomotion. (6-24 mos.)
Pub Date: March 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-84686-180-2
Page Count: 16
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2009
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS
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