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Baby Bear (2014)

by Kadir Nelson(Favorite Author)

3.69 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0062241729 (ISBN13: 9780062241726)

languge

English

genre

Middle Grade & Children's

publisher

Balzer + Bray

review 1: This best part of this book for me is the illustrations, which is not surprising from a Kadir Nelson book. The ones in here are beautiful. And one could stretch this to using very polite manners as well as advice for all kinds of troubling situations in life (look up, sit still and think, sing, etc.). But the overall story kind of lags. I had hoped when he found he was home that he would have found a parent at the same time. Oh well. Could work in a storytime, but I'd have to think on that.
review 2: Baby Bear is lost in the woods and is trying to find his way home. As the night wears on, he is missing the comfort of his mother and the familiarity of his own place in the woods. He makes his way through the forest, making the acquaintance of many woodland creatu... moreres and takes advice offered from each of them. Their suggestions, while mostly philosophical – trust yourself, choose wisely, listen to your heart -- bring him comfort and show him that one is rarely alone in the forest. His long night of trial and error wandering also teaches that morning can often bring a whole new perspective to one’s problems, literally and figuratively.Author/illustrator Nelson, probably better known for his Caldecott-winning artistic feats in books that feature famous people (Salt in His Shoes, Dancing in the Wings, Henry’s Freedom Box, Nelson Mandela, etc.) takes on the natural world in a visually stunning way. The front end papers set the stage for the story and both front and back end papers make for a great game of finding the creatures with which the bear interacts. Since most of the story takes place at night, moonlight and starlight create shadow, illumination and reflection in the big (and little) eyes of animals, the lighting on tree stumps, and the ethereal, misty surroundings in nighttime meadows, tree stands or by the river. One exceptional example is the two-page, wordless spread that shows an extreme close-up of Baby Bear’s eyes, muzzle and nose with the full moon as the reflective irises in his eyes, along with small dots of reflected stars. Nelson’s oil paintings capture the natural details with amazing realism evidenced by the fly wings and legs protruding from a frog’s mouth, the dandelion tufts floating between the tree trunks, and the feathered barn owl perched on a limb. Some illustrations leave room for prediction by giving hints of the next animal sage Baby Bear will meet. As gentle and sensitive as the text is, Nelson still leaves room for a wisp of humor, having Baby Bear hug a tree, following a squirrel’s advice. When asked by the moose what he is doing, Baby Bear replies with the ever-popular kid phrase, “Uh, nothing.” The book would be a great text for talking about the fears involved with being lost or worried and the logical thinking required for finding one’s way, whether back home or through a problem. It’s also perfect for the bedtime set. less

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