My Big Bear, My Little Bear and Me

by Margarita del Mazo, Rocio Bonilla (Illustrator)

Overview

It’s good to have a bear, but having two is even better!
So does this little girl think as she prepares for a thrilling day in the snow, hand-in-hand with her two bears. Together, they will go sledding down the mountain and they will meet a ton of friends in the woods! Lots of fun in this wintery tale by storyteller Margarita del Mazo and illustrator Rocio Bonilla.

A tender story about the warmth of winter with the right company. One of the few children’s books with a tribute to dads.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788417123505
Publisher:	NubeOcho
Publication date:	10/22/2019
Series:	Somos8 Series
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 12.25(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD400L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

A writer and storyteller who is greatly admired in Spain, Margarita del Mazo has almost twenty books to her name, many of which have been translated into other languages. Among them are the bestsellers Camuñas and The Flock (El rebaño), which won the Madrid Booksellers Guild Award and the Miami Cuatrogatos Foundation Award for best illustrated children’s book.

A renowned illustrator in Spain, Rocio Bonilla’s books have been published in English, French, German, Belgian, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. Many of her books are bestsellers in Spain and some of them have been published in Italy such as: What Colour is a Kiss?, The Tallest Mountain of Books in the World, and Max and the Superheroes.

Editorial Reviews

11/11/2019

“If you have a big bear and a little bear, you’ll never lose your way,” declares the confident narrator of this heartwarming translation. With hay-colored pigtails and a pointy nose, the heroine has not just one bear—a jaunty gray stuffed pal—but also a human-size second bear whose face remains savvily obscured beneath a scarf. Over the course of a snowy day, the girl appreciates all her two bears offer. “The big one protects me from the cold,” she says, nestled inside its coat. “The little one helps me to make friends,” she adds, facing a friendly fox. Bonilla’s large-format pencil-and-watercolor illustrations play with perspective and add an element of mystery about big bear to what’s otherwise a straightforward ode to comfort and affection—all that “bears” provide. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

The short, sweet text and adorable illustrations would make this a perfect winter storytime pick.---NetGalley-Librarian

From the Publisher

★ 11/01/2019

PreS–A young child has two bears: an inseparable little (stuffed) bear and a big bear that takes care of her. One snowy day, the three of them set foot outside their cozy home and into the snowy woods. The big bear shows the girl how fish come out of the icy ground, and the little bear helps her make new friends. Del Mazo's oversized picture book will appeal to preschoolers. The simple plot and text structure is ideal for young children's attention span. Bonilla's illustrations depict the snowy winter background surrounded by shades of aquamarine and light brown colors; the girl is colorfully dressed with a red coat that adds symmetry with a red fox, a ladybug, and a barberry bush. This picture book emphasizes emotional intelligence touching on topics of appreciation, trust, wonder, and happiness. The Spanish edition is a faithful translation of the English version. VERDICT A simple picture book with a surprising ending that will charm readers. Perfect for toddler or preschool storytimes.—Kathia Ibacache, Simi Valley Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

2019-06-23
Two bears are decidedly better than one.

The little protagonist puts a hat on a stuffed bear, then bends forward a bit so that a big bear in a woolly green coat can perform the same service. The two walk hand in hand out into the snowy day. The big bear hoists the child and stuffed bear onto broad shoulders. The stuffed bear rests against a toadstool while the child makes a snowman. Later, both child and stuffed bear are wrapped in the big bear's coat for warmth. The stuffed bear helps the child make friends with several animals, including a rabbit and a squirrel. Child and toy sled joyfully down a snowy hill before the trio heads home. "If you have a big bear and a little bear, you'll never lose your way." Up to this point, readers have seen the big bear only from the back; at this point they discover that the furry ears and head are only a hat. It's not a bear at all but evidently the child's caregiver, white like the protagonist. The stark, wintertime illustrations and minimal, repetitive text introduce a sweet premise but ultimately add up to very little. Only the youngest will be surprised by the reveal—and they may be disappointed that that nurturing bear is not ursine after all. This import from Spain publishes simultaneously with the Spanish-language original.

Two bears but not much there. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews

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