The Bears Vacation

The Bears' Vacation. Stan and Jan Berenstain. 1968. 72 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Hooray! Hooray! We're on our way! Our summer vacation starts today!

Premise/plot: The Berenstain Bear family is on vacation. Pa and Small Bear have many, many adventures--or should I say MISadventures. It all starts with Pa's lectures on how to stay safe. Despite his safety rules, Pa (or Papa Bear) gets into trouble time and time again. He's not so great at following his own advice. OR he's simply not observant and self-aware.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It was funny. All the humor is at Papa Bear's expense. He's just not very bright. It is written in rhyme like the Big Honey Hunt. I am enjoying reading some of these older titles in the series. I do not think I'll bother reading the newer titles.

 Text: 4 out of 5
Illustration: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Inside, Outside, Upside Down

Inside, Outside, Upside Down. Stan & Jan Berenstain. 1968. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Going in/ Inside/ Inside a box/ Upside down/

Premise/plot: A young bear cub (whom would later be named "Brother Bear") will have quite an adventure to tell his Mama at the end of the day. His adventure begins when he gets INSIDE a box...

My thoughts: This is an early book in the "series" of the Berenstain Bears. The story it tells--if indeed it tells an actual story--is told SIMPLY with a few words. This was one of the books I had growing up. I never "bonded" with it like I did The Big Honey Hunt.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

A Birthday for Frances

A Birthday for Frances. Russell Hoban. Illustrated by Lillian Hoban. 1968/1995. HarperCollins. 32 pages.

It was the day before Frances's little sister Gloria's birthday. Mother and Gloria were sitting at the kitchen table, making place cards for the party. Frances was in the broom closet singing:

Happy Thursday to you,

Happy Thursday to you,

Happy Thursday, dear Alice,

Happy Thursday to you.

"Who is Alice?" asked Mother.
"Alice is somebody that nobody can see," said Frances. "And that is why she does not have a birthday. So I am singing Happy Thursday to her." 
"Today it is Friday," said Mother.
"It is Thursday for Alice," said Frances.
"Alice will not have h-r-n-d, and she will not have g-k-l-s. But we are singing together."
"What are h-r-n-d and g-k-l-s?" asked Mother.
"Cake and candy. I thought you could spell," said Frances.
"I am sure that Alice will have cake and candy on her birthday," said Mother.
"But Alice does not have a birthday," said Frances.
"Yes, she does," said Mother. "Even if nobody can see her, Alice has one birthday every year, and so do you. Your birthday is two months from now. Then you will be the birthday girl. But tomorrow is Gloria's birthday, and she will be the birthday girl." 
"That is how it is, Alice," said Frances. "Your birthday is always the one that is not now."

I just LOVE and ADORE A Birthday for Frances. It is Gloria's birthday. And Frances decides--a bit reluctantly--that she should buy something for her baby sister with her allowance. She decides on one Chompo bar (chocolate bar) and four gumballs. But it isn't easy for Frances to keep her mind made up. The more she thinks about it, the more she thinks that she should keep the Chompo bar for herself. The gumballs, well, they already met their fate. By accident, Frances claims. Will Gloria receive a Chompo bar for her birthday? Or will Frances be selfish and eat it herself?!

This book has the delightful Chompo Bar song in it:

Chompo Bars are nice to get.
Chompo Bars taste better yet
When they're someone else's.

I would definitely recommend this one. Do you have a favorite Frances book?


© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Tiger Who Came To Tea

Kerr, Judith. 1968/2009. The Tiger Who Came To Tea. Candlewick Press.

I honestly still don't know what to make of this one. Candlewick's first edition of this UK classic is being released next week. It's a silly story, no doubt, about a tiger who comes to visit a girl and her "mummy" one day.

Once there was a little girl called Sophie,
and she was having tea with her mummy
in the kitchen.
Suddenly there was a ring at the door.

Apparently, this one is quite popular and well-known in some circles. Since it's being done "live on stage." I'm a bit more reserved in my opinion. Maybe you had to grow up with it? Anyway, it's available soon and you may just like it :)




© Becky Laney of Young Readers