221-223. Picture Book Parade

221. Bear With Me. Kerascoët (Sebastien Cosset and Marie Pommepuy). 2023. [June] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [near wordless picture book]

First sentence: Bear with me!

Premise/plot: Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways. This is a near wordless picture book starring a growing girl (she's an infant on the first spread and starting school towards the second half) and her beloved bear. Throughout the book, you see her growing up. This sequence is beautifully illustrated and super relatable. The conflict in this one--well, one of two conflicts, perhaps--is WHAT will she do at school without bear? (And perhaps just perhaps what will Bear do all day without her while she's at school.) 

My thoughts: I don't always love wordless books, but this near-wordless picture book charmed me from page one. SO much story is expressed on each spread. SO much emotion. So many relatable experiences--from both sides. For example, the sequence where the dad has had ENOUGH and is putting his foot down, so to speak, and washing Bear in the washing machine. Those two pages express so much just through illustrations alone. But I think my favorite pages deal with the girl's attempt to take the Bear with her. Literally, "Bear with me." 

I loved this one so much. It was super cute and adorable. It was very relatable.

222. The Together Tree. Aisha Saeed. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [school, bullying]

First sentence: Rumi joined Ms. Garza's class on the first warm day of spring. 

Premise/plot: Rumi, the new student, is bullied by his classmates. He spends his time during recess drawing underneath a tree. Soon he's not alone. It doesn't happen over night, nor quickly enough for Rumi, perhaps, but unlikely friends can become good friends.

My thoughts: This is a picture book that addresses bullying AND reaction to bullying. The focus isn't so much on the person bullying and the person being bullied as it is the bystanders who witness bullying situations. 

This is a message-driven book. Unfortunately, bullying continues to exist in this world despite all the calls for kindness and compassion. Still every book that promotes kindness and compassion is welcome.

I liked this one. The illustrator has long been one of my favorites. 

223.  Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance! Hervé Tullet. 2023. [May] 64 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book] [interactive]

First sentence: Ready? Place your hand here. Close your eyes. Concentrate. Wiggle your fingers gently to warm them up. Heads up, your turn now....

Premise/plot: This is an "interactive" book that may [or may not] appeal to young children. It invites them to follow the instructions of the book, be directed by the illustrations. It is written in second person, present tense. 

My thoughts: I may not be the right audience for this one. I wanted to be. I just wasn't. I do think it has potential to appeal to young ones. (As do most books). I think if there was more tapping and less swooshing or sweeping, it might have been more enjoyable to me.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

20. The Book of Hugs

The Book of Hugs. Tim Harris. Illustrated by Charlie Astrella. 2021. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Hi, I'm Teddy Bear Tim and I love hugs!

Premise/plot: Teddy Bear Tim loves to hug. And almost as much as actually hugging is talking about hugging.

My thoughts: Reading is subjective. 99.5% of books I feel will find their right reader that just really takes to the book and loves it. So I have no doubt that this one will entertain or 'charm' some readers some of the time.

This one didn't work for me personally. Again, reading is subjective. I don't know exactly why it didn't work for me. I do like teddy bears. I do like hugs. Maybe my expectations were too high?
Maybe I was just confused by the inclusion of monkeys in a book about hugs?

I think the charm being associated with this book is really towards the author. Readers familiar with Tim Harris' story are more likely to be charmed and delighted by the book.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

10. Bear is a Bear

Bear is a Bear. Jonathan Stutzman. Illustrated by Dan Santat. 2021. [September] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Bear is a bear hopeful and shy. Bear is a bear full of love. Bear is a new friend. Bear is a snack. Bear is a tissue. Bear is a soft, warm pillow. Bear is a bear covered in fuzz. Bear is a bear full of love.

Premise/plot: The many, many, many, many, many, many adventures (with a few misadventures perhaps???) of a girl and her teddy bear. The book opens with BEAR being given to a very young child. Throughout the book, we see them together through ALL that life has to bring. We see them together....until they aren't. But will Bear make a comeback???

As may be obvious from the cover art, Bear is presented throughout the book not as a TEDDY BEAR (a toy) but as an ACTUAL, ACTUAL, ACTUAL BEAR. It isn't until the very, very, very end of the book that readers catch a glimpse of him as a toy.

My thoughts: LOVELY. This book was absolutely lovely. There were definitely some bittersweet moments--from an adult perspective mainly. But the ending was redemptive, in my opinion. I don't know that a child would read this and feel any sadness whatsoever. Though perhaps a sensitive child might. I can't say for sure. 

I might have read it as a child and thought NO, NEVER, EVER, EVER WILL I EVER PUT MY BEAR IN A BOX AND FORGET ABOUT HIM. 

But I think the story celebrates LIFE and is very true-to-life. There were little details--like seeing the Bear provide comfort to the girl as she reads LITTLE WOMEN. (That book does need a warning label!!!!)

Is it more for adults than children???? I'm not sure. Perhaps. Probably. Does that matter??? I think adults *need* picture books too. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Begin Smart: Where's Your Nose

Where's Your Nose? Begin Smart Books. 2010. May 2010. 16 pages.

This teddy bear touches his toes.
Can you touch bear's toes?
Where are your toes?

This teddy bear touches his nose.
Can you touch bear's nose?
Where is your nose?

This Begin Smart book is recommended for babies six to twelve months. It's a touch-and-feel book too. And one of the better quality touch-and-feel books I've come across in my reviewing. So many different textures represented. (I especially loved seeing the touch-and-feel sweater!)
The text's many questions make this one have the potential for being truly interactive.

Definitely recommended!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers