Though a tad didactic and not as sweet as the first, Ruzzier’s second in the Bear and Bee series offers young readers an...
Bear and Bee learn that things aren’t very much fun without a friend to share them with.
In their second outing (Bear and Bee, 2013), Bear and Bee’s new friendship is tested as Bear tries to entice Bee into doing his favorite things with him, while Bee is busy with chores. Despite such diversions as rolling down the hill, climbing a tree and splashing in the pond, Bee’s chores (watering plants, cooking, sweeping) take precedence over spending time with Bear, a situation sure to be familiar to children who have similarly busy parents. Bears sums it up neatly when he remarks, “Oh Bee….Having fun is not as fun without you.” Repetitive refrains will get listeners participating and help new readers build confidence: “Come and….You will love it!... // “No thank you….I’m too busy to….” The shoe is on the other foot after Bear falls asleep and Bee wants to gaze at the moon with him. Unsurprisingly, Bear’s too busy. But Bee’s clever compromise is a happy resolution for both friends. Throughout, the simple illustrations captivate (and sometimes stun) with their Seuss-ian colors.
Though a tad didactic and not as sweet as the first, Ruzzier’s second in the Bear and Bee series offers young readers an important lesson that goes down easy. What will be next for the two friends? (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-5961-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
A particularly soppy, sloppy addition to an already-overstuffed genre.
A bear cub gets a load of lyrical loving from a lumbering parent in this nature walk.
Expressed in stumbling rhyme—“I love you more than trees / love to change with every season. / I love you more than anything. / I cannot name just one reason”—Benson’s perfervid sentiments accompany scenes of bear and cub strolling through stands of birch, splashing into a river to watch (just watch) fish, and, in a final moonlit scene, cuddling beneath starry skies. Foxes, otters, and other animal parents and offspring, likewise adoring, make foreground cameos along the way in Lambert’s neatly composed paper-collage–style illustrations. Since the bears are obvious stand-ins for humans (the cub even points at things and in most views is posed on two legs), the gender ambiguity in both writing and art allow human readers some latitude in drawing personal connections, but that’s not enough to distinguish this uninspired effort among the teeming swarm of “I Love You This Much!” titles.
A particularly soppy, sloppy addition to an already-overstuffed genre. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-68010-022-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
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
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