The Bear's Song
The Bear's Song
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Publisher's Hardcover ©2013--
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Chronicle Books
Just the Series: The Bear Books   

Series and Publisher: The Bear Books   

Annotation: Papa Bear wakes up to find his son missing, and his search leads him to an opera house and a command performance.
Genre: [Animal fiction]
 
Reviews: 7
Catalog Number: #5485860
Format: Publisher's Hardcover
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Copyright Date: 2013
Edition Date: 2013 Release Date: 09/17/13
Pages: 1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN: 1-452-11424-2
ISBN 13: 978-1-452-11424-8
Dewey: E
LCCN: 2012046877
Dimensions: 37 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
Starred Review ALA Booklist (Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)

Starred Review This visual treat of a book follows Papa Bear and Little Bear on an adventure from the countryside to a bustling city. Papa Bear is hibernating in the forest, toes up and round belly on full display. Little Bear, however, is too caught up in honey thoughts to worry about winter approaching, and a sort of buzzing beckons him out of the forest. He's hot on the heels of a bee. Call it intuition, but Papa Bear wakes suddenly wondering where his little cub has scampered off to and he sets off at a trot through the forest. This is the premise, and it's simple enough, right? But no ench author and illustrator Chaud wends us through intricate scenes, first populated with all kinds of animals and trees, then cityscapes filled with people, so bustling and charmingly detailed that the eye, happily, doesn't know where to land first. It's Where's Waldo?, Little Bear style. Chaud, however, knows when to pause for effect, as during Papa Bear's rousing solo at the Opera House, where Little Bear has arrived. The pictures really do tell the story here; the words seem almost unnecessary. With a distinctive art style, large vertical trim size, and expressive characters om bear to opera-goer is is a book not to be missed. Encore!

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Hibernation is for grown-ups--Little Bear has adventure on his mind. In mad pursuit of a bee, Little Bear races through the forest, farther and farther away from his snoozing, cave-bound father: "Little Bear is too caught up in honey thoughts to hear winter's whisper. A busy sort of buzzing beckons him instead." Eagle-eyed readers can track the bear and bee all the way to Paris from the French countryside, devouring the hundreds of fanciful details that populate each gorgeous, oversized, double-page spread. When Papa Bear wakes up and sees his errant cub is missing, he too dashes off, eventually ending up at the Opéra Garnier and--oo la la!--even finding his voice onstage: "Grooooaaaarrrr!" Minidramas unfold by the square inch on delicious curry-, paprika- and olive-colored pages--cloaked and shifty-eyed lurkers, a mysterious lady with a poodle, a monkey-hatted child. Even in the Opéra's exquisitely rendered architectural flourishes lurk images of forest beasts, and the honeycomb endpapers aptly flank the busy visual hive within. The playful, poetic text--brilliantly translated from the original French--hums along as nature and culture stylishly collide: "Now where could that bee and that Little Bear be?" This extraordinary picture book, first published in France as Une chanson d'ours (2011), is as happy a surprise as finding a honey-filled hive at the end of a fur-raising journey. (Picture book. 2-8)

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

When Little Bear runs off in search of honey, his father follows him through the woods, into the city, and finally to the stage of a Paris opera house. The text is unremarkable, and the plot is a stretch. It's the stylish oversize illustrations--bursting with texture, detail, and humor--that are the star of the book.

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

Hibernation is for grown-ups--Little Bear has adventure on his mind. In mad pursuit of a bee, Little Bear races through the forest, farther and farther away from his snoozing, cave-bound father: "Little Bear is too caught up in honey thoughts to hear winter's whisper. A busy sort of buzzing beckons him instead." Eagle-eyed readers can track the bear and bee all the way to Paris from the French countryside, devouring the hundreds of fanciful details that populate each gorgeous, oversized, double-page spread. When Papa Bear wakes up and sees his errant cub is missing, he too dashes off, eventually ending up at the Opéra Garnier and--oo la la!--even finding his voice onstage: "Grooooaaaarrrr!" Minidramas unfold by the square inch on delicious curry-, paprika- and olive-colored pages--cloaked and shifty-eyed lurkers, a mysterious lady with a poodle, a monkey-hatted child. Even in the Opéra's exquisitely rendered architectural flourishes lurk images of forest beasts, and the honeycomb endpapers aptly flank the busy visual hive within. The playful, poetic text--brilliantly translated from the original French--hums along as nature and culture stylishly collide: "Now where could that bee and that Little Bear be?" This extraordinary picture book, first published in France as Une chanson d'ours (2011), is as happy a surprise as finding a honey-filled hive at the end of a fur-raising journey. (Picture book. 2-8)

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

In the Buster Keatonesque climax of this glorious romp from Chaud (Pomelo-s Opposites), Papa Bear takes a dive through some opera house scenery and lands in a crystal chandelier onstage, dangling above two very surprised singers. How did he get there? His son, Little Bear, has spent the book chasing a single bee in hopes of finding honey. Papa Bear, in turn, has been chasing Little Bear through one spread to the next, from their native forest (where Papa Bear-s presence starts an animal stampede) into the bustling streets of a French city (where almost no one notices him) and into the opera house. Though the song Papa Bear roars to the startled audience doesn-t go over well (-Wait a minute. Where is everyone going?-), he finds Baby Bear at last-and some honey, too. The hide-and-seek quality of the oversize spreads contributes much of the story-s fun-alert searchers can always find the bears and bee, but the riot of French life that surrounds them is just as entertaining. Closely and affectionately observed, Chaud-s tale bursts with joie de vivre. Bis! Ages 3-5. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

K-Gr 2 In this engaging, oversize picture book, Papa Bear is just settling down for winter when he realizes that Little Bear has run off. The cub is chasing a bee, first through the forest and then through a French metropolis. Papa Bear searches everywhere, finally catching sight of his son on the steps of the Opera House. But inside, now where did he go? Young readers will enjoy figuring out the answer as they search page by page for Little Bear and the bee. Each large spread features a scene filled with dozens of figures, many of which serve as decoys for Little Bear. What makes the watercolor and line illustrations even more fun are the humorous details, such as the two woodcutters who have scurried up a tree as Papa Bear runs past them in the forest. With its rich colors, heavy paper, and cosmopolitan locale, this is more than a seek-and-find book, and the story has a very sweet ending involving honey and Papa Bear's song. A pleasing choice for kids who just can't get enough Waldo , and even those who can. Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
Starred Review ALA Booklist (Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)
Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews
Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
School Library Journal (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)
Wilson's Children's Catalog
Word Count: 395
Reading Level: 2.8
Interest Level: P-2
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 2.8 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 163397 / grade: Lower Grades
Reading Counts!: reading level:3.5 / points:1.0 / quiz:Q64565
Lexile: AD730L
Guided Reading Level: M

New York Times Notable Children's Book

"Sweet" has new meaning in this richly illustrated, immersive picture book about two bears on a big-city adventure. Papa Bear is searching for Little Bear, who has escaped the den. Little Bear is following a bee, because where there are bees, there is honey! When the quest leads both bears into the bustling city and a humming opera house, theatrical hijinks ensue, culminating in a deliciously harmonious reunion. Children and parents alike will savor Benjamin Chaud's lush illustrations, and relish in the book's bonus seek-and-find elements.

Looking for more Papa Bear and Little Bear? Check out Bears Sea Escape!


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