School Library Journal Starred Review (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

PreS-Gr 2 Alphabet books are published fairly regularly for good reason: they help children crack the code to letter sounds and words. Every once in a while, a special one comes out that grabs readers with its creativity and spirit while still accomplishing all its lofty goals. This is one of those elusive abecedarians. Right from the get-go, readers know that this book is going to be exciting: "Bear is Awake!" That exclamation portends good things. Bear wakes up after his winter nap and finds a cozy cottage where he rings a doorbell. A startled little girl lets him in and he proceeds to eat everything in sight. The bear is adorably goofy, the palette soft and colorful, and the movements of the bear and the girl across the pages pull readers contentedly through the book. The underlying story of friendship and empathy is charming and the vocabulary accessible and informative. Harrison cites Helen Oxenbury's ABC of Things as her inspiration and hopes this book inspires wonder like that great one before her. VERDICT This is a must-buy for any parent, elementary, or juvenile collection, and teachers will find this a great model text for writing. Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

In this diverting alphabet story, a bear wakes too early (it's the dead of winter) from hibernation, heads to a girl's cabin in the woods, rings her doorbell--and a friendship is forged. No full sentences or dialogue here; words beginning with each letter of the alphabet are presented alone (doorbell) or in phrases (enter excited). Both capital and lowercase versions of each letter are featured on every page. Included are some delicious words for readers to try out--intrigued, oblivious, outlandish, wistful. Harrison's richly colored gouache illustrations are expressive, with much being conveyed in the pair's body language. The girl puts a yellow knit hat on her new friend and they walk into town to explore (the library, the market, etc.), alarming residents along the way. There are moments of mischief (bear hungrily attacking the girl's breakfast); humor (bear clinging to a branch as the girl tries to lead it back to its cave); and subtle poignancy as the girl successfully brings the bear home and says goodbye. The book meets the x challenge of any alphabet book, with the girl planting multiple kisses (X x x x x) on the creature's nose. The note she leaves for the bear ("See you in the spring!") guarantees that this friendship isn't coming to an end. A sunny seasonal story to brighten a cold winter's day.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A grizzly bear rouses prematurely from hibernation and stirs up hunger-fueled pandemonium for a child in Harrison-s narrative abecedarian. Each letter describes elements of the duo-s journey, the dynamic illustrations proving of particular note as the bear awakens, rings the child-s doorbell, and after being disguised in a yellow cap, ambles with the girl, visiting a library to learn about bears- needs and a market to acquire hibernation supplies. After pancakes at the girl-s cabin, the pair plods through the wilderness toward the bear-s den so the animal can resume its slumber-this time with treats, a quilt, and the girl-s own teddy. Humorous facial expressions occur every step of the way, and the bear-s good-natured mayhem should draw smiles. Ages 3-5. (Nov.)