What About Bear?

by Suzanne Bloom

Overview

Goose and Bear are back in this classic friendship story about choosing one friend over another.

It's playtime! Bear and Goose are having fun. Then Little Fox joins in – and somebody gets left out. Feelings are bound to get hurt. But as this gentle story shows, the solution lies in including friends, not excluding them. As in her previous Bear and Goose stories, Suzanne Bloom's latest book deals with a familiar aspect of friendship and how to solve problems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590789131
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	10/01/2012
Series:	Goose and Bear Stories
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	376,150
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	BR (what's this?)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Suzanne Bloom is the author and illustrator of the ever-popular Goose and Bear series, including the Geisel Honor-winning A Splendid Friend, Indeed, as well as many books outside the series, such as I Just Like You, The Bus for Us and A Mighty Fine Time Machine. A longtime resident of upstate New York, Suzanne is a graduate of Cooper Union and is a mother and a grandmother. Visit suzannebloom.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Artfully uses body language rather than text (which runs to fewer than 100 words) to crank up the emotional intensity. . . . Another splendid outing, indeed." —Kirkus Reviews

"Little listeners will identify with Bear's reaction to Fox's arrival and unfair exclusion and to cheer on Goose's defense of his big furry friend." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

★ "Fans of Goose and Bear from A Splendid Friend, Indeed (2005) and Treasure (2007, both Boyds Mills) will enjoy having them back." —School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

A small red fox joins playmates Goose and Polar Bear, introduced in A Splendid Friend, Indeed (2005)-setting up a "three's a crowd" conflict that even the still-diapered set will quickly recognize. Initial shyness dissipating quickly, Fox repeatedly announces "I want to play a new game." But Fox's hopscotch squares are too small for Bear, checkers is a two-player game and the telescope is a one-at-a-time sort of toy. Off Bear stomps in a huff, leaving Goose to make a choice. As before, Bloom poses shaggy figures against a rich blue color field and artfully uses body language rather than text (which runs to fewer than 100 words) to crank up the emotional intensity. Fox's sharp nose and bushy tail are particularly eloquent at expressing bossiness, lonely remorse after Bear and Goose depart and relief after Fox is invited back into the fold ("Bear is my big, old, sometimes grumpy friend," says Goose. "You can be our new friend") and curls up in Bear's lap to share a book. Another splendid outing, indeed. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews