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MINA AND THE BEAR

Name: MINA AND THE BEAR
Author: Sabine Jörg
ISBN: 0-7358-1036-2

by Sabine Jörg ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1999

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PLB 0-7358-1037-0 A book-within-a-book device marks Jîrg’s import from Switzerland, which sends readers into a strange, enchanted fantasy world where a grown bear marries a young woman. Mina desperately wants a teddy bear; she falls ill when she doesn’t receive the toy. Dr. Rooney is called in on the case, and offers solace in the form of a story he tells; he suggests that he is the descendant of a bear. The story moves from Mina’s bedside to Dr. Rooney’s tale, set in a forested land of bears, one of whom happens to be his own grandfather. Here the glossy pages fade to a matte brown, the script turns into an old-fashioned italic, and the book must be turned on its side to be read. After the story, Mina receives a toy mama bear, papa bear, and baby bear for her next birthday, but she no longer needs them: Mina imagines herself as a bear, part of one happy bear family, thanks to the doctor. This small flight of fancy is movingly conveyed in the illustrations, which show all of Mina’s family, formerly humans, as bears. Mysterious, but lovely. (Picture book. 5-8)

Pub Date: April 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-7358-1036-2

Page Count: 42

Publisher: NorthSouth

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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QUACK AND COUNT

by Keith Baker & illustrated by Keith Baker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1999

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Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-15-292858-8

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
HAP-PEA HALLOWEEN
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

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HAP-PEA EASTER
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

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HAP-PEA VALENTINE'S DAY
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

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BIG BROWN BEAR

by David McPhail & illustrated by David McPhail ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1999

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Big Brown Bear, with a natty bowler hat, is all set to paint the house in this cheerful Level 1 reader. Every page presents a full-color scene and a few words of easily predicted, often rhyming text: “Bear is big. Bear is brown. Bear goes up. He comes down.” Big Bear climbs a ladder with a pail of blue paint, while nearby, Little Bear plays with a ball and bat—“Oh no! Little Bear! Do not do that!” These are simple words, but sometimes challenging ones, e.g., there are two uses of up, as in climbing the ladder and washing up. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations provide nearly ideal context, while also amplifying the story. The format is attractive and practical, featuring large type on a white background that is placed for easy reading. Beginning readers will be amused by the gentle humor in the book, and feel accomplished to have tackled it themselves. (Picture book. 5-7)