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ARE YOU THERE, BABY BEAR?

Name: ARE YOU THERE, BABY BEAR?
Author: Catherine Walters
ISBN: 0-525-46161-2

by Catherine Walters ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1999

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The cuddly, inquisitive cub Alfie (When Will It Be Spring?, 1998) returns, this time on a quest to find his “missing” baby sibling. Chafing at the seemingly interminable wait for the arrival of the new baby, Alfie becomes convinced that he or she must have gotten lost on the journey home. The eager bear cub explores the woods searching for the baby. Walters’s realistically rendered illustrations show Alfie on a merry chase as he mistakes one wild creature—a beaver swimming, a baby bison hiding, and a lounging mountain lion—after another for the baby bear. When Alfie’s father discovers his discouraged cub, he takes him to the one place Alfie didn’t search—home, where a new brother and sister are waiting. The lush nature scenes, populated by an array of lovable woodland animals, fill the pages, but this is a very human story, tempering this glimpse of a toddler’s single- minded perspective with compassion and gentle humor. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-525-46161-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MAGICAL SNOWMAN
by Catherine Walters and illustrated by Alison Edgson

- BOOK REVIEW
SLEEP TIGHT, GINGER KITTEN
by Adèle Geras & illustrated by Catherine Walters

- BOOK REVIEW
PLAY GENTLY, ALFIE BEAR
by Catherine Walters & illustrated by Catherine Walters

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QUACK AND COUNT

by Keith Baker & illustrated by Keith Baker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1999

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Baker (Big Fat Hen, 1994, etc.) engages in more number play, posing ducklings in every combination of groups, e.g., “Splashing as they leap and dive/7 ducklings, 2 plus 5.” Using a great array of streaked and dappled papers, Baker creates a series of leafy collage scenes for the noisy, exuberant ducklings to fill, tucking in an occasional ladybug or other small creature for sharp-eyed pre-readers to spot. Children will regretfully wave goodbye as the ducks fly off in neat formation at the end of this brief, painless introduction to several basic math concepts. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-15-292858-8

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
LMNO PEA-QUEL
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

- BOOK REVIEW
HAP-PEA ALL YEAR
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE GREEN PEAS
by Keith Baker ; illustrated by Keith Baker

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BIG BROWN BEAR

by David McPhail & illustrated by David McPhail ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1999

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Big Brown Bear, with a natty bowler hat, is all set to paint the house in this cheerful Level 1 reader. Every page presents a full-color scene and a few words of easily predicted, often rhyming text: “Bear is big. Bear is brown. Bear goes up. He comes down.” Big Bear climbs a ladder with a pail of blue paint, while nearby, Little Bear plays with a ball and bat—“Oh no! Little Bear! Do not do that!” These are simple words, but sometimes challenging ones, e.g., there are two uses of up, as in climbing the ladder and washing up. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations provide nearly ideal context, while also amplifying the story. The format is attractive and practical, featuring large type on a white background that is placed for easy reading. Beginning readers will be amused by the gentle humor in the book, and feel accomplished to have tackled it themselves. (Picture book. 5-7)