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

Taking a break from Ladybug Girl, Soman uses his watercolors to paint a playful tale of responsibility. When Dash, Charlie and Theo—three sibling bears growing up by the sea—break their mother's treasured blue seashell while attempting to get into the honey pot, they don't 'fess up. They instead sail away in their boat, thinking maybe they can find another shell to replace the broken one before their mother gets home. An old, "salty bear" advises them to sail to a faraway island, but when they get there, there's no shell. A sudden storm, conveyed in a brilliant page turn, helps the quarreling bears realize both their common vulnerability and their culpability, and they sail home, finding a blue shell on their own beach. They apologize to Mama Bear, offering the replacement shell. She forgives them, of course, but with a twist that will make readers smile as they remember another naughty adventurer and his "still hot" dinner. Filled with illustrations that insert lighthearted visual nods to classic books (a boat named Melville is filled with Moby Dick–ish bears, and a raft carries Huckleberry Finn–like bears), this tale is a treat for both eye and ear. Humorous and intelligent—and with watercolor seascapes so luminous that readers will want to jump in—this is a book to be treasured for years to come. (Picture book. 2-8)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

PreS-Gr 1 Breaking a prized blue seashell while their mother is away and knowing they'll be in big trouble, three mischievous bears set out to sea to find a replacement. The plot is simple, yet the bears don't find what they're looking for immediately. They search, fight with one another, and even get caught in the middle of a storm. Their adventures will keep readers interested, making the story a great read-aloud, and the mother bear will leave readers with an ending that will appease parents everywhere. The gorgeous, bright and detailed illustrations are a perfect fit for the text. A first purchase for all.— Brooke Rasche, La Crosse Public Library, WI

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

Soman, co-creator of the bestselling Ladybug Girl series, makes his first solo effort, one that gives his artwork plenty of opportunities to shine. Dash, Theo, and Charlie, three young bears, have broken their mother-s treasured blue shell in an attempt to reach the honey jar on the mantel. Rather than confess (they-re -Afraid of their mama, who, after all, was a bear-), they conspire to replace the shell before she gets home, setting off boldly to search for one in their sailboat. Their journey allows Soman to paint both comic vignettes (the bears meet a dory called -Melville- loaded with dogged-looking whalers and a harpoon) and breathtaking sea scenes as the bears get tossed by the huge green waves of a storm, meet some whales, and, in one particularly beautiful spread, sail along a glittering trail of light on the ocean waves. Soman manages to suggest the gentle colors and textures of old color lithography, giving the pages the feeling of a dog-eared vintage find. Although the artwork draws most of the attention, the understated writing and steady pacing offer solid support. Ages 3-5. (May)

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Taking a break from Ladybug Girl, Soman uses his watercolors to paint a playful tale of responsibility. When Dash, Charlie and Theo—three sibling bears growing up by the sea—break their mother's treasured blue seashell while attempting to get into the honey pot, they don't 'fess up. They instead sail away in their boat, thinking maybe they can find another shell to replace the broken one before their mother gets home. An old, "salty bear" advises them to sail to a faraway island, but when they get there, there's no shell. A sudden storm, conveyed in a brilliant page turn, helps the quarreling bears realize both their common vulnerability and their culpability, and they sail home, finding a blue shell on their own beach. They apologize to Mama Bear, offering the replacement shell. She forgives them, of course, but with a twist that will make readers smile as they remember another naughty adventurer and his "still hot" dinner. Filled with illustrations that insert lighthearted visual nods to classic books (a boat named Melville is filled with Moby Dick–ish bears, and a raft carries Huckleberry Finn–like bears), this tale is a treat for both eye and ear. Humorous and intelligent—and with watercolor seascapes so luminous that readers will want to jump in—this is a book to be treasured for years to come. (Picture book. 2-8)

ALA Booklist

While trying to reach a honey pot on the mantelpiece, three young bears accidentally break their mother's prized blue seashell. Fearful of punishment, they leave their house and set out in a small sailboat to find a replacement shell. An old bear directs them to a distant island, but they find no blue shells there. Sailing off again, the unhappy bears encounter a storm. As they bicker about who is to blame for breaking the shell, the sea grows rougher and more frightening. But when each accepts responsibility, the water suddenly calms, and they find themselves near home again. As they reach the shore, they discover the perfect blue shell. Cocreator and illustrator of the Ladybug Girl series, Soman uses color with finesse in a visually impressive picture book that features striking seascapes and three childlike bear cubs. While the artwork is very effective, the rambling narrative doesn't always flow well. Still, both parents and children will find plenty to enjoy in this beautifully illustrated offering.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Climbing up to the mantle for a pot of honey, Dash, Charlie, and Theo accidentally break their mother's blue seashell. In search of a replacement, the three bears set sail, coming across eccentric sailors, wild aquatic animals, and strange lands on their adventure. Soman uses rich blues and greens in his expansive watercolor spreads, artfully capturing the mood and movement of the ocean.