Little Bear (I Can Read Book Series: A Level 1 Book)

by Else Holmelund Minarik, Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Overview

Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return. And, of course, she never forgets his birthday.

This classic from Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak was written in 1957 and remains as beloved today as it was then. An ALA Notable Children's Book, this Level One I Can Read is full of warm and lovingly playful stories that are perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780064440042
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/18/2003
Series:	I Can Read Book 1 Series
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	2,157
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	370L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Else Holmelund Minarik first introduced readers to her timeless character in the classic Little Bear. Publication of this book, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak, launched the I Can Read series. This much-loved author continues to write stories for children at her home in North Carolina.

Maurice Sendak’s children’s books have sold over 30 million copies and have been translated into more than 40 languages. He received the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are and is the creator of such classics as In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There, Higglety Pigglety Pop! and Nutshell Library. In 1970 he received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration, in 1983 he received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award from the American Library Association, and in 1996 he received a National Medal of Arts in recognition of his contribution to the arts in America. In 2003, Sendak received the first Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an annual international prize for children’s literature established by the Swedish government.

Table of Contents

	What Will Little Bear Wear?	11
	Birthday Soup	22
	Little Bear Goes to the Moon	36
	Little Bear's Wish	50

Editorial Reviews

A find, of proved success with the child who has first-grade reading skill. The story of Little Bear's imaginative play feels far removed from controlled vocabulary; Maurice Sendak's drawings give it special distinction. . .

Virginia Haviland

There are four stories in this beginning reader, which don't really get tied together until the last one. In the first Little Bear wants to go out and play in the snow, but he is cold so Mother Bear makes him some clothes. After wearing a hat, coat and trousers, Little Bear still isn't warm, so his mother suggests that he just play in his fur coat, which seems to work out just fine. In the next tale, Little Bear is afraid that his mother has forgotten his birthday so he sets about making some birthday soup. As his friends arrive to wish him a happy birthday, he invites them to join him for soup. At just the right moment, Mother Bear arrives with a birthday cake. Little Bear decides that he is going to go to the moon, but since he can't fly he just pretends he is one the moon, which it turns out for him, is very similar to Earth. In the final story, Little Bear can't seem to fall asleep and he starts wishing for a series of outlandish things when his mother asks what he wants. Finally he asks for a story about himself and she obliges by reprising the adventures in the first three chapters. Typical kid behavior is evident and kids younger than those who can read will probably enjoy the stories the most. The pictures by Sendak are probably the major reason for this reissue. A Beginning Reading, Level 1 in the "I Can Read Book" series. 2003 (orig. 1957), HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 7.
— Marilyn Courtot

Children's Literature