Ultimately, amiable but undistinguished.
Can the clever rabbit stop the hungry bear from eating him?
The titular Grizzly Bear with the Frizzly Hair has eaten almost everything in the forest but is still ravenous. And he's very bad-tempered about it, to boot. An "itzy-bitzy" rabbit makes the mistake of asking the bear what he's going to do. Lickety-split, the bear swoops the rabbit up in his giant paw and prepares to swallow him whole. Fast-talking rabbit tries distraction, self-deprecation and just plain pleading to get the bear to change his mind. Each buys him a little time, but he finally gets the bear's attention when he claims that there are much bigger things to eat down at the river. Bear, keeping a tight hold on rabbit, decides to check it out. When he looks in the water, he does see a creature a lot bigger and more appetizing than the scrawny rabbit. Before long, he's picked a fight with his own reflection and, in the heat of the moment, lets the rabbit go. Anyone who has read about the narrow escapes of Brer Rabbit can guess what happens next. Taylor's prose has some nice flourishes that read aloud well. Shaw's illustrations in pen and ink and scanned textures have some fun compositions, but the pictures of the rabbit actually in the bear's mouth might take some aback.
Ultimately, amiable but undistinguished. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-84780-085-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Enjoyable holiday fare for the littlest trick-or-treaters.
Does the box of Halloween costumes contain enough to clothe a passel of bears?
There’s a lot inside that carton: “hats, capes, and bats,” for example, and much more besides. And here come the four excited little bears, eager to comb through the contents to find the right trick-or-treat get-ups. At first, they find just what they want. Then, they simultaneously shout and pull at one another’s pickings as well, each desperately needing what another one has. The hubbub causes poor little Floppy to fall on her rear, so she tells Big Brown Bear she’ll wait until the others are done. Unfortunately, by the time everyone else has grabbed their stash, there’s nothing left in the box but a crumpled-up sash. Contrite, all the other bears willingly share their largesse with Floppy, turning her into the “holiday queen.” She leads the parade outdoors, all the bears dressed in their Halloween finest. This latest in Parenteau and Walker’s Bears on Chairs series is a sweet, brief rhyming tale for very young children that emphasizes kindness and sharing—a fine message for Halloween or any time. The lilting verses move smoothly and rhythmically and express a familiar scenario. The colorful, expressive illustrations are endearing; minimal text and lots of white space per page focus attention on the characters and goings-on.
Enjoyable holiday fare for the littlest trick-or-treaters. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: July 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0837-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
Whimsical and dreamy, certain to delight dog lovers with its heart and humor.
Debut picture-book author Kim ruminates on the various ways pups settle in for a snooze.
Drawing readers’ attention to a chalkboard diagram of “A Study of Sleepy Dogs,” an unseen narrator tells us to “pay close attention, as there are quite a few details to observe.” Accompanying tongue-in-cheek text that imitates a classroom lecture, playful illustrations portray dogs humorously engaging in a series of rituals in preparation for a siesta. First, dogs need to find the perfect spot: “It can be hard. It can be squishy. Sometimes it’s in-between.” The soft-hued pastel, colored pencil, and gouache art has a pleasing crayonlike texture, while small vignettes throughout depict all manner of antics as dogs settle down. Take, for example, the sleeping positions. From “The Turtle” (sleeping on one’s belly, with paws crookedly splayed) to “The Burrito” (slumbering rolled in a blanket), the possibilities are endless. Endpapers complement the theme with wide-awake dogs cavorting while releasing energy at the beginning and, at the conclusion, dozing peacefully. But then Kim asks the big question: “What do they dream about?” That remains a mystery, but images of canines napping with dream bubbles offers an opportunity for viewers to consider the possibilities and perhaps identify their own dream scenarios.
Whimsical and dreamy, certain to delight dog lovers with its heart and humor. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
ISBN: 9780316580281
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
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