Tag: bears

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

When Bear meets Goldilocks, a big mess ensues!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bear and the Three Goldilocks, by Patrick Horne/Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, (July 2025, Holiday House), $18.99, ISBN: 9780823455522

Ages 4-8

This flipped fairy tale serves as a cautionary tale when going camping. The Goldilocks family – Mr. Goldilock, Mrs. Goldilock, and Goldie Goldilock – head to the campground for a family trip, but sharp-eyed readers will see that the family is being watched by a curious bear, who wanders to their camp when the family goes for a hike. He samples their s’mores – too gooey, too chocolatey, juuuust right – and finishes the rest of the food, too; after all, “that’s how bears roll”. Bear tries out the family’s instruments, and finally, makes himself at home in Goldie’s tent, where he falls asleep. Baby Bear’s family arrives on the scene as the Goldilocks family discovers the mess, but as the family doesn’t understand bear language, Mr. and Mrs. Bear’s apologies and an invitation to come to their house for some porridge doesn’t go over well. The moral of the story: put your food in bear-proof containers when camping! Yaccarino’s illustrations are wonderful and have little details to enjoy, from Bear peeking out of the trees as the family arrives to a wolf confronting a young girl with a red hood at the story’s close. Horne’s storytelling makes for a funny, casual readaloud that will keep readers giggling. Pick this one up for your storytime collections.

Terry Pierce’s board book, Eat Up, Bear! is another fun story about campground safety; my interview with Terry also includes links to keeping campers and bears safe.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Big Bear and Little Fish return!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bear’s Big Idea, by Sandra Nickel/Illustrated by Il Sung Na, (Sept. 2024, Carolrhoda Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9798765610176

Ages 4-7

Big Bear and Little Fish have become such great friends in the two years since their first book. In their new adventure, it’s Bear’s turn to come up with a fun new idea, which gives her a bit of anxiety. Usually, it’s Fish that has the great ideas, but now it’s Bear’s turn, and everywhere she turns, she sees remnants of activities left over from the week with Fish. With a little creativity and an open mind, a great new idea is just waiting for Bear – she just has to let herself open up to the possibilities. Nickel’s storytelling sweetly pairs with Na’s digital illustrations, bringing a touch of humor to a story about the pressure of choosing the “just right” activity for a friend. Nickel captures the stress of coming up with a blockbuster activity with phrases like, “What if she couldn’t find an idea? What if that meant she wasn’t a good friend?” Readers familiar with Big Bear and Little Fish will appreciate Bear’s caution with Fish as they climb trees and splosh in puddles. Endpapers show Bear and Fish in a variety of poses. A sweet companion to the original story and a good addition to storytime collections. Download a curriculum guide for Bear’s Big Idea from Sandra Nickel’s author page.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Space Pirate Bears to the rescue!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hi, all! I know I said I was back, but then I gave myself a panic attack by seeing the giant TBR I’ve accumulated. I’m just jumping in, so please forgive the delay and get ready to get caught up. Here we go!

Space Pirate Bears, by Alastair Chisholm/Illustrated by Jez Tuya, (Dec. 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684647361

Ages 4-7

The storytelling family from The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears and The Tale of the Valiant Ninja Frog are back! In this latest installment, Dad is working from home on a rainy day and siblings Jamie and Abby are BORED. Luckily, it’s not too difficult to tear Dad away for a quick story! This time, the awful Doktor Drab is using his horrible Boron Beam to make the whole universe as dull as he is. What to do when the usual heroes fall victim to the beam? Call in the Space Pirate Bears! There’s one problem, though: Jamie and Abby can’t agree on whether the Space Pirate Bears are unicorn doctors, secret agents, or ninjas, and the whole universe hangs in the balance! This fun adventure is all about compromise and teamwork, and makes for a fun read-aloud. Colorful illustrations are eye-catching, with fun details for readers: the siblings’ toys are characters in the story, and readers familiar with the previous entries will recognize some familiar faces. Endpapers show the space pirate bears in a variety of action poses. A fun additional purchase for storytime collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Bears Don’t Cry reminds us to have empathy

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bears Don’t Cry!, by Emma Chichester Clark, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684645145

Ages 3-6

A young girl named Clementine and her mother have a lovely friend named George, who also happens to be a bear. He’s “no ordinary bear”, as Clark states: he loves to read and spend time with Clementine and her mother, sitting in their garden or helping around the house. When George ventures out on his own to visit the library, though, he learns that not all people are like his two friends at home. Terrified of a bear wandering their streets, they react… well, kind of how you’d expect. George’s feelings are hurt; he’s humiliated, and bursts into tears, but Clementine comes to the rescue and gives the crowd a lesson in kindness. A sweet way to start off the new school year, readers will be reminded not to  make judgements based on appearances and predetermined ideas; when someone’s feelings are hurt, the best way to react is to show empathy and care. Expressive illustrations will pull at heartstrings. Clementine and her mother present as white, and there is some diversity in the crowd as George explores the town. Originally published in Great Britain in 2022, Bears Don’t Cry is available in the U.S.

 

 

Posted in Intermediate, Non-Fiction

Kids Ask About Bears

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bears (Kids Ask About), by Christopher Nicholas/Illustrated by Pedro Julio Gonzalez, (Jan. 2023, Sequoia Kids Media), $20.99, ISBN: 9798765400319

Ages 7-10

This intermediate nonfiction series takes the big questions that come up and intersperses fun facts. There are lots of questions about bears: Where do they live? Which bear is the biggest? Which one is the smallest? What’s up with the koala: is it really a bear? Presented in a question-and-answer format, Kids Ask About: Bears is illustrated in full-color, with realistic images and photos of bears throughout. Questions and answers show up in speech bubbles; bulleted lists and callout speech bubbles provide additional facts. Colorful fonts are eye-catching and the facts are brief and easy to read and remember. A table of contents allows readers to go directly to questions they want to read about: “Where do polar bears live?” “How do sloth bears get their name?” “Do all bears eat animals?” Very user-friendly and kid friendly, the Kids Ask About series is a nice addition to your nonfiction collections. Visit the Sequoia webpage for printable companion worksheets, activity sheets, and coloring pages.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Bondi and Poppy Help Heal the Planet: Make Earth Day Every Day!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bondi and Poppy Help Heal the Planet, by Judith A. Proffer/Illustrated by Yoko Matsuoka, (Apr. 2023, Juju Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781088113431 

Ages 3-6

This sweet rhyming story stars two friends: Bondi, an Australian koala and Poppy, a California bear, who come together to raise awareness about the havoc wreaked by wildfires on their homes and how climate change plays a part in it. The two friends meet in Hawaii – the middle ground between their homes – where they spend time together and think of ways to help keep their homes – our home, Earth – safe. Kids will love the friendly-faced animals, colorful art, and playful rhyme. By outlining ways that everyone can pitch in and take responsibility for helping the environment – creating a family plan,; reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost; use less water and paper,  and rely less on gasoline and more on our own  bodies to get around – Proffer involves the whole family and empowers everyone from adults to kids. Initially published in time for Earth Day, Bondi and Poppy share a message worth repeating as Poppy’s part of the world heads into summer, when we rely on our air conditioners and prefer less walking over air-conditioned vehicles. A cute additional purchase for collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Picture Book Historical Nonfiction: A Bear Far from Home

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

A Bear Far From Home, by Susan Fletcher/Illustrated by Rebecca Green, (Sept. 2022, Anne Schwartz Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593181898

Ages 4-8

Inspired by the bear in King Henry III’s royal menagerie, A Bear Far from Home is a heart-aching story that imagines the life of the white bear given to Henry by King Haakon IV of Norway in the thirteenth century. Using letters and official documents, Fletcher creates the story of a young bear born in Norway, her capture by trappers and voyage to England, and her life as the only one of her kind in a new world. Told in verse, the story is sensitive to the young bear’s plight; beginning with the bear’s origin in Norway and how it was a “place that fit her perfectly”, the story shifts to her capture and voyage to England, asking readers to think about how the bear would feel enduring these scary experiences alone. When the King orders his men to let her fish in the river, the story takes on a bittersweet tone as the bear revels in the magic of the familiar as she dives into the water. Illustrator Rebecca Green creates medieval-inspired artwork to tell her story. Gouache and colored pencil illustrations recall tapestries and illuminated manuscripts, with the pages edged in gold frames; deep colors and bold outlines recall stained glass artwork. Notes from the author and illustrator provide deeper context to the story and setting, and a bibliography provides information for more reading. An excellent addition to storytime collections and a great choice for school-age storytime and prompting discussions on empathy.

A Bear Far from Home has a starred review from Booklist.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Big Bear, Little Fish, Great Friends

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Big Bear and Little Fish, by Sandra Nickel/Illustrated by Il Sung Na, (Sept. 2022, Carolrhoda Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781728417172

Ages 4-8

Bear goes to a carnival hoping to win a giant teddy bear, but wins a goldfish instead. Worried that she is too big to play with, feed, or love the tiny fish, she stays as far away from it as possible, lamenting the fact that she’s saddled with this little fish instead of a big teddy bear. Fish helps Bear discover that the two are not so different after all. With a sweet look at relative size and ability, Big Bear and Little Fish is a story of looking past the surface and snap judgements to get to the heart of a situation. It’s a wise story of friendship and kindness that reads beautifully for a young audience and gives slightly older readers food for thought. Cartoon illustrations endear the animals to readers; cool shades of blue against a bright white background provide depth and texture; warm browns and golds on the animals add a warmth to the narrative. Sentences are brief and to the point, letting newly independent readers enjoy the book on their own or as part of a storytime. A good selection for storytime collections.

A free educator kit on the Lerner Books website offers discussion questions and activities.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Welcoming Winter: Winter Lullaby

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Winter Lullaby, by Dianne White/Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, (Dec. 2021, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536209198

Ages 3-8

I’ve been on a bedtime story kick lately; I must be missing the days I put my own littles (not-so little now) to bed with a story or 3… or 4. This latest lullaby centers on Small Bear, who doesn’t understand – despite the snow falling to the ground! – why he has to get ready to sleep the winter away. After all, he’s seeing other friends running around, like Mouse, Skunk, and Hare; why can’t he stay up? Mama patiently explains each time that each of the animals is preparing for their own winter nap, whether they are gathering food or finding a warm, comfortable spot to bed down. She soothes Small Bear’s frustration by promising that they’ll wake up to a beautiful, green spring, and they’ll spend brighter, warmer days at play. But for now, it’s time to dream. Kids and caregivers alike will recognize Small Bear’s resistance to bedtime, and pointing out the injustice of having to go to sleep while other kids get to stay up. Rhyming couplets add a soothing cadence to a readaloud, and the digital artwork has gorgeous texture, using cool and warm winter colors to bring the story to life. Different sized fonts alert readers to the change between Mama Bear and Small Bear’s dialogue. Mama and Small Bear are playfully affectionate. Illustrations and verse teach readers about various animal homes as we see skunks bed down underground, hares sleeping in a hollowed out tree, and badgers snuggling in their dens. Pair with the humorous Hush Up and Hibernate! by Sandra Markle (2018) for a hibernation storytime or lesson. Author Dianne White has an activity kit for Winter Lullaby available on her website.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Redlocks and the Three Bears flips fairy tales for fun

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Redlocks and the Three Bears, by Claudia Rueda, (Nov. 2021, Chronicle Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9781452170312

Ages 3-5

Claudia Rueda’s newest story is a sweet, humorous take on Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Bears, and that old trope of the Big Bad Wolf. Mama Bear is just about to get the porridge on the table when a knock sounds at the Bear Family’s door: it’s Little Red Riding Hood, and there’s a bear after her! Baby Bear convinces his parents to give Red some shelter; porridge is eaten, chairs get broken, a bed is too soft… but is the Big Bad Wolf really that bad? Redlocks takes a compassionate look at the maligned image of the Big Bad Wolf, who always finds himself in trouble throughout fairy tales, and offers readers some food for thought on how bad reputations can hurt.

The story offers a fun take on the Goldilocks story, with Little Red Riding Hood taking on some of Goldie’s actions in the story; narrated by Baby Bear, we get an empathetic storyteller who just wants to make others feel better. Colored pencil illustrations are soft and use warm colors with expressive characters and gentle movement moving the action forward. Mama’s porridge recipe is part of the back endpapers, and looks like it was written by Baby Bear himself.

A fun cameo from The Three Little Pigs and a twist ending will have readers chuckling, and the easy-to-read, unfussy storytelling is great for a readaloud. Grab your flannels for Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Bears, and The Three Little Pigs for this one!

Visit Claudia Rueda’s author website for more of her illustration work and information about her workshops.