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

by Else Holmelund Minarik, Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Overview

Enter the world of Little Bear. Children will be entranced by Little Bear's trip to the moon, his birthday party, and his wishes and adventures.

This is the first of the five classic books about Little Bear, introducing the funny and strikingly childlike bear cub and his friends. The combination of Else Holmelund Minarik's simple, yet eloquent, stories and Maurice Sendak's warm, tender illustrations have made this beloved character an enduring favorite among beginning readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060242404
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	01/28/1957
Series:	I Can Read Book 1 Series
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	35,347
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.37(d)
Lexile:	370L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 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.

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