The Bear's Song

Irritating though they are when they won't fit on normal shelves, I love these oversized books. This one has great illustrations and a fun story, and I think my niece liked it as much as I did.

Papa Bear is just settling in for his winter's hibernation when he realizes that Little Bear, who has run off chasing an enticing bee, is nowhere to be found. Setting out to find his wayward son, our paternal ursine hero traverses the forest, the city, and a busy opera house before finally finding

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what he is looking for. His 'song,' when he finds himself unexpectedly up on stage, may not have much appeal for the human attendees, but Little Bear finds it very appealing. Little Bear, for his part, has something to share - something very sweet! - with his father...

Originally published in in France as Une chanson d'ours, this delightful first adventure featuring Papa Bear and Little Bear pairs an engaging text with absolutely gorgeous artwork. The book is quite tall, even for a picture-book, and each two-page spread depicts a busy world, whether that be a forest or a city. Young readers and listeners will enjoy finding Little Bear on each page, and will likewise enjoy Papa's search. There is so much to look at here, and so many humorous details, from the two foresters who leave behind their saw to climb a tree, when they see Papa Bear, to the boy with bear-hat that Papa Bear initially mistakes for Little Bear. The colors in The Bear's Surprise are vivid and deep, but they're also subtle, and beautifully matched and contrasted with one another. All in all, this was a real pleasure, and more than enough to convince me to track down subsequent stories about this ursine duo. Recommended to anyone looking for beautifully-illustrated picture-books, or children's stories featuring bears and/or reassuring father-child reunions.

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