Scan barcode
A review by absentminded_reader
Little Bear's Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik
4.0
This volume in the Little Bear series is perhaps the most dear, the most nostalgic, and the most dull. By this I mean it wasn't nearly as creative for me as the other volumes. It was full of charm, but not as clever. However, that's only comparitively. It is still an excellent book and a favorite of mine.
The first story was filled with traditional grandparent-style behavior with Grandfather Bear being the comic relief. The second story about Little Bear's mother and her bird was sweet, but a bit saccharine for me. As a child, I remember skipping over it. That may be because I found the story tedious, but it was more likely I was racing ahead to "Goblin Story", the only imaginitive & fanciful tale in the book. The last story is sure to bring a chorus of "Aww"s to most readers, as Little Bear fights sleep because he's not really tired.
Certainly, there were moments that stood out for me. The illustration skill was quite remarkable. Unlike the other books in the series, there were no lavish backgrounds and settings. There was just page after page of sumptuously rendered, Victorian outfits, as well as animated faces that made the bears more human than some people I've worked with. Grandfather doing a jig was a highlight for me as a child and an adult. Also, I still enjoy the mock look of worry on the Grandfather's face just before he begins to regale Little Bear with goblin story. The color palette was still limited to three spot colors (Brown, black & green), despite the wonderful rainbow available to printers in 1961. This limited palette, along with Sendak's gorgeous hatchwork, helped the story feel very old-fashioned. As a child, I felt these books were ancient, despite them being only a few years older than me.
Overall, Little Bear's Visit is a charming collection of tales very well suited for bedtime. It might be a bit mundane for my expectations, but I know that all my daughters enjoyed the book, so perhaps my opinion is in the minority. Besides, cynical, gruff Daddies weren't Minarik & Sendak's intended audience.
The first story was filled with traditional grandparent-style behavior with Grandfather Bear being the comic relief. The second story about Little Bear's mother and her bird was sweet, but a bit saccharine for me. As a child, I remember skipping over it. That may be because I found the story tedious, but it was more likely I was racing ahead to "Goblin Story", the only imaginitive & fanciful tale in the book. The last story is sure to bring a chorus of "Aww"s to most readers, as Little Bear fights sleep because he's not really tired.
Certainly, there were moments that stood out for me. The illustration skill was quite remarkable. Unlike the other books in the series, there were no lavish backgrounds and settings. There was just page after page of sumptuously rendered, Victorian outfits, as well as animated faces that made the bears more human than some people I've worked with. Grandfather doing a jig was a highlight for me as a child and an adult. Also, I still enjoy the mock look of worry on the Grandfather's face just before he begins to regale Little Bear with goblin story. The color palette was still limited to three spot colors (Brown, black & green), despite the wonderful rainbow available to printers in 1961. This limited palette, along with Sendak's gorgeous hatchwork, helped the story feel very old-fashioned. As a child, I felt these books were ancient, despite them being only a few years older than me.
Overall, Little Bear's Visit is a charming collection of tales very well suited for bedtime. It might be a bit mundane for my expectations, but I know that all my daughters enjoyed the book, so perhaps my opinion is in the minority. Besides, cynical, gruff Daddies weren't Minarik & Sendak's intended audience.