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gargamela's review
2.0
I bought the book because I liked the cover and because the blurb promised that i would laugh out loud. However, I did not find the book particularly funny (especially the ending) and the illustrations were not that impressive (especially the two bears).
strikingthirteen's review
3.0
A hiker gives very practical, real time, advice about bears and bear spotting. Certain things are very helpful when dealing with bears, others are not. Great for storytime for both a group or one on one.
tashrow's review
4.0
A child heads into bear country with a helpful narrator who tries to offer needed advice in dealing with bears. First, the narrator tells the child of the two kinds of bears, but assures them that they will never see one. But then on the next page, the child is lucky enough to encounter a bear right away. And it’s apparently a black bear, not only due to its coloring but because it chases the child right up a tree. The child backs away slowly and runs right into a brown bear next. The child plays dead, but that only invites the black bear to come closer. Pepper spray doesn’t help, it just makes them hungry. But perhaps gum will be the solution! Or maybe not.
It is the interplay between the knowledgeable adult narrator and the child who manages to get into all sorts of furry trouble that makes this book such a great pick to share aloud. The bears are huge and fearsome but the book also makes sure to show that there are ways to interact with nature that leaves everyone alright in the end, if a little shaken. The book also mentions that it is not safe to really interact with bears like the child does in the book.
The illustrations are wonderful. They move from cartoon friendliness to pages of information that have a graph paper background. The use of a gender-free main character who has brown skin, makes this book all the more friendly to children from a variety of backgrounds. And the merry way that the child faces each obstacle adds to the light-hearted feel of the book.
A silly and jolly look at nature and bears that is sure to add laughter to a storytime. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
It is the interplay between the knowledgeable adult narrator and the child who manages to get into all sorts of furry trouble that makes this book such a great pick to share aloud. The bears are huge and fearsome but the book also makes sure to show that there are ways to interact with nature that leaves everyone alright in the end, if a little shaken. The book also mentions that it is not safe to really interact with bears like the child does in the book.
The illustrations are wonderful. They move from cartoon friendliness to pages of information that have a graph paper background. The use of a gender-free main character who has brown skin, makes this book all the more friendly to children from a variety of backgrounds. And the merry way that the child faces each obstacle adds to the light-hearted feel of the book.
A silly and jolly look at nature and bears that is sure to add laughter to a storytime. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
ellielabbett's review
4.0
Under the guidance of the narrator, this young bear explorer appears to know all that there is to know about dangerous bears. Fortunately, the chances of every seeing a bear are very slim, that is, unless you plan on going walking through Bear Country… An extremely witty story, the hapless protagonist and unhelpful narrator are a hopeless pairing in attempting to evade two rather unfriendly bears, with some lovely dark irony at the conclusion to the tale.
mat_tobin's review
5.0
Breaking that fourth wall right down, this book has a fascinating relationship between narrator and protagonist and it is great to see this relationship building in early picturebooks (This Book Ate My Dog is another that springs to mind). In this book, part story/part field notes, a young lad with a quick sense of humour and wit heads off into the woods to look for bears (or, at least, be wary of them). What follows is a series of encounters in which neither the narrator nor the field guide seem to prove to be of any use. Full of tongue-in-cheek comedy and a wonderful read aloud, I particularly loved the final page which reminded me so much of The Well-Mannered Young Wolf.
rachel_from_avid_bookshop's review
4.0
This is a how-to guide to spotting black bears and brown narrated by a sassy kid. David Roberts's illustrations are exquisite. This is a funny book that includes real life bear facts.
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