Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Bear has many talents; riding a bike isn't among them. He reads up on riding and otherwise obsesses, but ultimately it's his heart, not his intellect, that comes through when he must ride a bike to save a young goat. Anxious kids will appreciate the book's don't-overthink-it message, plus there's a wealth of visual texture (a checklist, a graph) within.

ALA Booklist

When it comes to math, gymnastics, science projects, or generally lending a paw, Bear soars, but put him on a bike and he crashes time after time. A "hairy problem," as Liu puts it, "unbearable." An instruction manual from the library offers the solution on't think about it too much!" t that's easier said than done. Until, that is, Bear sees a kite-flying young goat lifted up by a gust of wind ("Help!!!" bleats Mama Goat. "My kid is getting carried away!"); with no time to waver, he engineers an acrobatic, bike-assisted, mid-air rescue. Bike on, Bear! In her sweet, low-contrast cartoon illustrations, Litten surrounds the tubby tyro with supportive friends and properly depicts him wearing a safety helmet, even during the climactic rescue. Chris Raschka's Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle (2013) offers a more detailed, systematic plan of action, but young riders frustrated by their dependence on training wheels will take fresh encouragement from this lighthearted success story.

School Library Journal (Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

K-Gr 2 "Bear is no ordinary cub" begins this writerly story replete with puns, a sound narrative structure, and funny moments that will make kids cheer the protagonist along. His flaw is stage center: he can't ride a bike. He aces school, especially mathematics, has a helpful nature, and is a budding gymnast, but for him, biking is "unbearable." He questions whether it is a lack of intelligence, or a lack of confidence. His mother sends him to the library because you can "learn anything there," and he finds a how-to book. When a young goat is getting carried away by a fierce costal wind, Bear finds the opportunity to put all his knowledge of science, math, and gymnastics into one tour-de-force to save the kid in danger. There is a small-town sensibility here, yet with a background of historic buildings and the connotation of a city, there is depth to the sense of place. The palette is exquisite, with pale oranges and aqua blues, with added retro touches of background textures such as graph paper. The cartoon-style illustrations are gentle in nature and detailed enough to interest readers. VERDICT Fans of Kate DiCamillo will enjoy this book that encourages students to become well-rounded, and demonstrates how athletic, social, and academic skills can be applied in unexpected ways. Sara Lissa Paulson, The American Sign Language and English Lower School, New York City