Ninja Cowboy Bear Presents the Way of the Ninja

by David Bruins, Hilary Leung

Overview

The ninja's playtime games are too rough-and-tumble for his friends the cowboy and the bear. After he finds that playing alone isn't much fun, the ninja learns that the greatest thrills and the best adventures are the ones we share.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554539239
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	09/01/2010
Series:	Ninja Cowboy Bear Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
File size:	45 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

David Bruins lives in Dundas, Ontario, and spends most of his days as a computer programmer. However, he'd much rather spend his time riding his bicycle, playing guitar or telling stories to anyone who will listen.
Hilary Leung is a graphic artist in Burlington, Ontario, and a graduate of the illustration program at Sheridan College. His work for Kids Can Press includes the very popular Ninja Cowboy Bear series.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—This book, which revisits the characters introduced in The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear (Kids Can, 2009), focuses on one friend who loves "thrills and adventure." The cowboy prefers to paint and the bear wants to pick flowers, but the ninja convinces them to jump on beds and climb trees. Predictably, this leads to injuries for everyone except the ninja, and he is left to play alone. He soon realizes that even hyperkinetic activity is no fun without the company of friends, and a happy ending ensues. Bruins sometimes uses vocabulary that's out of sync with young children, for example: "When they got together it usually led to merrymaking, buffoonery, and hilarity"; "The ninja thought the bear was overreacting." The story is message-driven and prosaically told, and the characters have traits rather than personalities. Leung's computer-art illustrations are reminiscent of video games and anime, and they are sure to appeal to young videophiles. An additional purchase where books on the meaning of friendship are needed.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

School Library Journal

Ninja! Cowboy! Bear! Three great friends who have a great time together. Usually their time together leads to "merrymaking, buffoonery and hilarity." But Ninja's more of a daredevil than the others. When Cowboy suggests painting, Ninja would rather "shoot for the stars" by jumping on the bed. Cowboy bonks his noggin; no fun there! Ninja moves on to Bear, who suggests they pick flowers. Ninja would rather have a "fun flying experience" climbing the trees; Bear falls and gets a beehive stuck on his head; no fun for Bear! Ninja decides to play at derring-do alone...but soon discovers something's missing--namely, his best friends. Thank goodness they still want to play! Canadian computer programmer Bruins and equally Canadian graphic artist Leung collaborate on a fine sequel starring these unconventional buddies. The digitally created illustrations are one part Power Puff Girls and one part Eric Carle. The simple message of the plusses of cooperative play will be embraced by audiences who are likely still playing the hand game featured in the first adventure. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews