Ben Loves Bear

by David McPhail

Overview

Ben and Bear do everything together. After breakfast, they play hide-and-seek and do tricks to make each other laugh. At night, Ben tells Bear a bedtime story and Bear snuggles with Ben until he falls asleep.

The youngest readers will relate to the loving bond between a little boy and his favorite stuffed animal and how this sweet friendship makes each day special, from morning till night.

Praise for Ben Loves Bear

STARRED REVIEWS

"Theirs is a soft, comforting world of cereal and honey breakfasts, hide and seek, and quiet bedtime reading. McPhail’s quiet, pastelhued paintings ensure that readers will be glad to revisit Ben and Bear."

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Already a gifted artist, McPhail proves here that he intrinsically understands what the youngest readers want and need."

—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"McPhail’s classic watercolor style creates a comfortable and warm atmosphere that will resonate with youngsters."

—School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419703867
Publisher:	Abrams Appleseed
Publication date:	01/01/2013
Series:	Kreatives Management
Pages:	22
Sales rank:	290,508
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

David McPhail is a New York Times bestselling illustrator of more than 100 books for children, including When Sheep Sleep (written by Laura Numeroff), Waddles, Budgie & Boo, and Water Boy. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.

Editorial Reviews

McPhail gives readers an intimate view of the friendship between a small boy and his stuffed (but very active) bear. No adults appear—the only other character is a bluebird that pops up occasionally. McPhail’s prose is stripped to the bare essentials, gently rocking back and forth between the friends: “Ben tickles Bear. Bear laughs. Bear does tricks. Ben laughs, too.” Theirs is a soft, comforting world of cereal and honey breakfasts, hide and seek, and quiet bedtime reading. McPhail’s quiet, pastel-hued paintings ensure that readers will be glad to revisit Ben and Bear. Ages 2–4. Agent: Faith Hamlin, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Meet Ben, a young boy who has a favorite stuffed animal bear named Bear. Bear is very active and loves to do everything with Ben. When Ben eats cereal, Bear has honey. When Bear plays hide-and-seek, Ben finds Bear. When Ben picks a bedtime book, Bear reads the story. With the exception of a red-breasted bluebird that appears three times during the story, Ben and Bear are the only characters in this story about friends. Delightful, affectionate pastel watercolors focus on the activities shared by the two friends. A large board book with eighty-nine words and twenty-two pages, this is perfect for sharing with young children. The uncluttered pages, with one to two short sentences and repetitive language make it a good first reader for preschoolers. The author is a New York Times bestselling illustrator of more than one hundred books for children, including Waddles, Budgie & Boo and Water Boy. This title should be at the top of the list for personal and classroom libraries for the younger set. Reviewer: Suzanne Javid

Children's Literature - Suzanne Javid

PreS—Ben and his favorite stuffed toy are together from morning to night, and they seem to exist contentedly in their own little world. They wake up together and then, "Ben has cereal. Bear has honey" at the kitchen table. They play hide-and-seek, Ben gets dressed while Bear watches, they play outdoors, Bear waits patiently while Ben bathes, and the day winds down as the two snuggle up for bedtime, complete with a story. The illustrations alternate between spreads and smaller scenes set against a white background. McPhail's classic watercolor style creates a comfortable and warm atmosphere that will resonate with youngsters.—Laura Butler, Mount Laurel Library, NJ

School Library Journal

A lovely, toddler-friendly tale of a little boy's relationship with his teddy bear. Each page uses two- or three-word sentences and quiet scenes to express Ben and Bear's daily life and mutual affection. The inseparable duo engages in familiar activities, such as hide-and-seek, getting dressed and sandbox play. "Ben tickles Bear. Bear laughs. / Bear does tricks. Ben laughs, too." While Bear is undoubtedly a stuffed toy, the teddy interacts with Ben as a fully realized playmate and companion. McPhail, in top form here, has created soft watercolors with rounded lines that adroitly capture Ben's toddler movements. The artist's use of full spreads and smaller visual vignettes spotlighted in hazy, round borders gives the simple, easy-reader–like text rhythm and balance. Already a gifted artist, McPhail proves here that he intrinsically understands what the youngest readers want and need. (Board book. 18 mos.-3)

Kirkus Reviews