Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Why is Bear so mad?Readers first encounter Bear in his bedroom, scowling. A flashback (unusual in picture books) explains that he's mad because he "was the first one to have to leave the park for a nap." The accompanying art shows Bear being led off the recto and looking back longingly at other cubs on a playground. The text then explains that he tripped and "got an owie on the way home. And then he had to take off his boots and leave his favorite stick outside." This understated, sympathetic text is extended and enhanced by Gee's expressive, downright cuddly art, which evokes something of Kevin Henkes' later style, with a dash of Marla Frazee's emotive prowess. A zoomed-in portrait of Bear's pouting face against a dark background brings readers back to the time of the opening spread and reads "Bear thinks it is all no fair." This may bring to mind really, really angry Sophie and her blazing close-up in Molly Bang's famous title. Bear's ensuing tantrum alone in his room might make some wonder where his mother is (it was she who led him off the playground), but she soon reappears to give him lunch and tuck him in for a much-needed nap. When Bear awakens, he's ready to play outside, refreshed and, like angry Sophie before him, no longer mad.Good, good book! (Picture book. 2-5)

ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

A young bear stands in his room, arms crossed, with a disgruntled expression on his face. "Bear is mad," says the text, and soon we learn why. To start with, he had to leave the playground; next, he fell and "got an owie." Plus, once home, he couldn't bring in his "favorite stick." To Bear, "it is all no fair," and he's "very . . . very . . . Mad!" which snowballs into crying and tossing toys. But, eventually, taking breaths proves calming, so does Mom giving him a snack and helping tuck him into bed for a nap, at last. And, upon waking, things look brighter. Gee's spare, uncomplicated prose nicely captures both his escalating frustrations and the de-escalating process. Simply rendered illustrations, featuring soft, rounded figures and a warm palette, primarily keep the focus on Bear, and Gee's careful line strokes masterfully convey his various feelings and accompanying behaviors. Gee's relatable, insightful, and supportive story effectively portrays not only the intensity of some bad (and mad) moods, but also, reassuringly, that they'll pass.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

This simple, straightforward story perfectly captures a toddler's struggle with emotional regulation when life feels unfair. After expressing his anger, Bear takes deep breaths, slows down, and naps, and then he can go back to playing. The pattern of his tantrum will be familiar--and reassuring--to children and parents. Gee's understated, colorful illustrations show the world from Bear's perspective.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Why is Bear so mad?Readers first encounter Bear in his bedroom, scowling. A flashback (unusual in picture books) explains that he's mad because he "was the first one to have to leave the park for a nap." The accompanying art shows Bear being led off the recto and looking back longingly at other cubs on a playground. The text then explains that he tripped and "got an owie on the way home. And then he had to take off his boots and leave his favorite stick outside." This understated, sympathetic text is extended and enhanced by Gee's expressive, downright cuddly art, which evokes something of Kevin Henkes' later style, with a dash of Marla Frazee's emotive prowess. A zoomed-in portrait of Bear's pouting face against a dark background brings readers back to the time of the opening spread and reads "Bear thinks it is all no fair." This may bring to mind really, really angry Sophie and her blazing close-up in Molly Bang's famous title. Bear's ensuing tantrum alone in his room might make some wonder where his mother is (it was she who led him off the playground), but she soon reappears to give him lunch and tuck him in for a much-needed nap. When Bear awakens, he's ready to play outside, refreshed and, like angry Sophie before him, no longer mad.Good, good book! (Picture book. 2-5)

School Library Journal (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Toddler-PreSA young bear becomes extremely upset as he remembers how his mother made him leave the park while everyone else got to stay and have fun. After tripping on the sidewalk, he then "had to take off his boots and leave his favorite stick outside." Oh, the injustice of it all! Alone in his room, the toddler has a full-blown tantrum, pushes over a chair, and sends his teddy bear flying. Once his fury is spent, the cub begins to relax. After lunch and a nap, he is recharged and ready to play outside again. The black Prismacolor and digitally colored illustrations have clear clean lines and portray a toddler still in diapersas evidenced by the snaps on his pantswho has a meltdown. The fact that this very young bear was able to calm himself down and let the anger go is an important lesson in this charming episode. VERDICT Pair this with Molly Bang's When Sophie Gets Angry Really, Really Angry to introduce another method of dealing with anger and finding peace. Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI