Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Quiet contentment is the name of the game in this gentle tale of fish and scones.Big Bear wants to go fishing, and so does Little Bear. They dress for the occasion, but are they ready? "Almost." They need poles ("Almost"), then snacks ("Almost"), then a big green book of stories. Ready at last, they get into their rowboat and wait, but nothing's biting. Scones are noshed. Stories are read. And at last, one big fish does swim around them for a while before leaving. Then it's time to go home and nap together on the big hammock. With prodigious skill, Hest employs the quiet repetitions that make reading a book aloud a joy. "Poles, says Big Bear. Fishermen need poles. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Poles." "Scones, says Big Bear. Fishermen need nice, warm blueberry scones. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Scones." Stead, meanwhile, makes great use of vast white spaces, filling them with bees, clouds, and two bears with great affection for one another. Their love is evident as Big Bear holds Little Bear closely after the cub takes a flying leap into the boat. This tale has all the hallmarks of a family classic.A loving look at failing at fishing in the best possible way. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

Quiet contentment is the name of the game in this gentle tale of fish and scones.Big Bear wants to go fishing, and so does Little Bear. They dress for the occasion, but are they ready? "Almost." They need poles ("Almost"), then snacks ("Almost"), then a big green book of stories. Ready at last, they get into their rowboat and wait, but nothing's biting. Scones are noshed. Stories are read. And at last, one big fish does swim around them for a while before leaving. Then it's time to go home and nap together on the big hammock. With prodigious skill, Hest employs the quiet repetitions that make reading a book aloud a joy. "Poles, says Big Bear. Fishermen need poles. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Poles." "Scones, says Big Bear. Fishermen need nice, warm blueberry scones. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Scones." Stead, meanwhile, makes great use of vast white spaces, filling them with bees, clouds, and two bears with great affection for one another. Their love is evident as Big Bear holds Little Bear closely after the cub takes a flying leap into the boat. This tale has all the hallmarks of a family classic.A loving look at failing at fishing in the best possible way. (Picture book. 3-6)

School Library Journal (Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

PreS-Gr 2— From the author of Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone comes a mild but reassuring tale of a fishing trip with Big Bear and Little Bear. Deliberately repetitive text follows the bears as they get ready. Little Bear often repeats what Big Bear says, and his eager anticipation for the expedition is clear. While the trip doesn't end with a fish, both bears snuggle together for a perfectly timed nap. Stead's bear drawings ( Bear Has a Story to Tell ) feel snugly familiar, and this book reads as the opening round for more stories about Big Bear and Little Bear. The soft watercolor paintings have a Wind in the Willows nostalgia to them, and though nothing much seems to happen, it's actually a very big day. VERDICT This may be too subdued to stand out among other picture books, but there are small lessons to be learned about companionship, appreciating each moment shared, and making the best of an experience regardless of the outcome.— Heidi Dechief