Bear with Me

Description:
Everything in Owen's world is just peachy-till his parents bring home a bear named Gary-without even asking! Gary changes everything: he takes up way too much space and makes a mess of all of Owen's toys. Gary means well, though, and eventually Owen starts to see that there are some good things about having a bear in the family.

Because Gary is such an unusual addition to the family, this story will appeal to kids getting used to any kind of new family member, be it a baby, grandparent, pet, or even sharing with a friend. Refreshing humor, expressive illustrations, and characters full of personality make this warm, funny debut a book that will be treasured.



written by Max Kornell
ISBN:9780399252570

Comments:
"I had a mom and a dad and my own set of blocks," a redheaded boy reflects at the outset of Kornell's first picture book. "I had everything I needed." And then... no, it's not a new sibling that upsets the apple cart; it's a huge bear named Gary, who, according to the narrator's parents, makes the family "complete." But this is a displacement story with a twist: while Gary does cause all kinds of trouble (requiring constant parental attention, snoring, leaving caps off markers), the bear isn't a blithe or oblivious usurper; in fact, from his sad-sack eyes and hesitant posture, he looks seriously out of place. Could it be that Gary needs a friend? Portraying vulnerability without making one's characters look like whiners or wusses is no easy task, but Kornell succeeds. With a sadly matter-of-fact text and pictures composed of cutout images on painted backgrounds, he sets a sweetly plaintive mood that makes even the expected happy ending ("Maybe surprises are not so bad") quietly gratifying. It's not a flashy debut, but it's a promising one. from publisher weekly~

The Strange Case of the Missing Sheep

Description:
1, 2, 3 . . . hey, where'd all the sheep go??

In a place called Happy Valley, there live ten sheep. Every night, the ten sheep are counted into their beds by one Super Sheep Dog named Doug. But one day, the sheep are missing! Who could have stolen them? Might it be Wolf, who lives in the Dark Forest? And for what nefarious purpose? Does he want to knit them into a blanket? Bake them into a pie? Or maybe he wants to . . . count them?

With kooky, creative illustrations and an unexpected ending that will get kids giggling, this is a lively story about the fun of counting .. . and a bedtime surprise.




written by Mircea Catusanu
ISBN:9780670011315

Comments:
Mircea Catusanu's THE STRANGE CASE OF THE MISSING SHEEP is inspired by true events and tells of ten sheep last seen entering a mysterious dark woods. Doug, the Super Sheep Dog, is on the case in this fun mystery for ages 3 and up that blends in basic counting.

Very odd story. The illustrations are fun, but the various labels and assorted miscellaneous text are distracting. It's a short story and fun to read aloud, if you don't get too sidetracked. Otherwise, it's a good book to look at the pictures and point out the things you see.

Maisy at the Farm

Description:
Kids will flip for this Maisy novelty book! Now reissued in its original size, with a bold new design.

From their tactile matte-and-gloss covers to the brief guidelines for parents on the back, these lift-the-flap, pull-the-tab favorites now have a whole new look -- and are sure to have instant appeal for both Maisy fans and grown-ups who love them.




Written by Lucy Cousins
ISBN:9780763640965

Comment:
I am now raising my fourth Maisy fan, and I do consider myself rather an expert on the little white mouse. This is by far our favourite Maisy book – and we do have a few! Three boys all adored her, so how could Ella do anything different? This is a ‘flap n tab’ book, and is just very very sweet. We meet all the animals on the farm, but for once the tabs don’t just reveal a new animal – they have Maisy’s tractor chugging (and convincingly scaring a bird into the air out of the corn), the bottle-fed lamb drinking it’s milk, Maisy clearing the pigpen with a shovel (yes, really!) and our personal favourite, giving the excitable geese a drink. Sadly, Ella has just loved our copy a little too much, and it is much the worse for it – this is definitely one that will have to be replaced.