Berlioz the Bear

by Jan Brett

Other authorsJan Brett (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 1991

Status

Available

Call number

BRETT

Publication

G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (1991), Edition: 1st, 32 pages

Description

Berlioz the bear and his fellow musicians are due to play for the town ball when the mule pulling their bandwagon refuses to move. A strange buzzing in Berlioz's double bass turns into a surprise that saves the day.

User reviews

LibraryThing member KristieK
The bear in this story was practicing for an orchestra performance when he heard a strange buzzing sound coming from inside his instrument. He did not have time to fix it so he hurried to the performance. He and the other band members got into a wagon and headed to the performance. They hit a hole
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in the ground and got stuck. Several animals tried to help them but were unsuccessful. The bear tried to tune his instrument while they were stuck and out flew a bee. The bee frightened the other animals and they ran so fast, they were able to pull the wagon out of the hole.

I liked tis book. It was very cute. I would read this to a group of students. it shows that no matter how small you may be, you can always be helpful.

Possible Extensions:
1. I may have the students act out the story in costumes.
2. Then I can have each student make their own musical instrument.
3. I may have the students write a story about how the bee felt about being interrupted.
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LibraryThing member kerrik
Berlioz played the bass. He was in the orchestra, and they were supposed to play at a ball. There was a buzzing sound in his instrument. As the orchestra was in their wagon, the mule pulled them right into a hole. Many animals tried to help pull the mule, but he wouldn't budge. Finally, the bee
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came out of Berlioz's bass an stung the mule, causing it to pull the wagon out of the hole and to the ball on time.

I loved the illustrations in this book. There were picture borders on every page. The fantasy in this book including talking animals and small animals doing manual labor was interesting.

With my class, I could let the students work together to write a story and then illustrate it. Each student could get a page to draw a picture border. Another activity would be to act out this story.
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LibraryThing member Cottonwood.School
Berlioz the bear and his fellow musicians are due to play for the town ball when the mule pulling their bandwagon refuses to move. A strange buzzing in Berlioz's double bass turns into a surprise that saves the day.
LibraryThing member donnammccoy
When Berlioz agrees to provide the music for a gala ball, he finds out his Bass has a strange buzz. He is so distracted with it that he drives the wagon he and the band are riding in, into a hole. Nothing seems likely to get it out in time to get to the village for the ball. Finally a bee shoots
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out of the bass, stings the mule, who stampedes into the village and thrills the audience with the dramatic entrance. The encore is dedicated to the bee. Absolutely beautiful, detailed illustrations
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LibraryThing member fullerl
Berlioz and his band are due in town shortly for a performance. But something is wrong with Berlioz's bass! It is making a strange bussing sound. What is wrong? On tops of all that, their cart is stuck, their donkey won't pull, and they are sure to be late for their show! Plenty of folks stop by to
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help, each sure of their ability to solve Berlioz band’s troubles. But no one can until...the buzzing bass turns out to be a buzzing bee! Fighting mad, the bee zooms out of the bass and stings the poor stubborn donkey right on the rump. The donkey takes off, moving so fast that the band arrives exactly on time for the show.
Jan Brett's pictures are delightful with attention to details that uniquely transform the faces of animals into expressions decidedly human. A very fine story with a pleasingly humorous resolution.
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LibraryThing member JillianWilliams
Berlioz the Bear is a wonderfully entertaining book. The story contains many wonderful animals that all try to work together to get the Bear orchestra to the town square to play for the big gala. Berlioz the main character is worried because he hears humming and buzzing in his instrument while he
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practices in the wagon. The wagon gets stuck and everyone that passes tries to pull the wagon from the hole. Finally a small bee flies from Berlioz’s instrument and gets the donkey up and moving so they make it to the town square just in time.

I really enjoyed this story. All the different characters had wonderfully enchanting personalities that brought them all to life. The setting was very fairytale like and makes you want to attend the important gala.

This would be a great story to use for an introduction to different types of musical instruments. The children could listen to different types of music and discuss the many instruments used to create the music.
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LibraryThing member cejerry97
This book was about a bear whose double-bass wasn't sounding right before he was supposed to play in a concert - it was making a buzzing noise. Berlioz leads the orchestra by mule to the town ball that they were supposed to perform at. The mule gets stuck in a hole and different animals come along
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and try to get him out. A bee flies out of Berlioz's instrument, stings the mule, and the mule finally moves out of the ditch and carries them into town. The orchestra plays well and the town asks for an encore. Berlioz dedicates the encore to the buzzing bee.
Type: picture book, intermediate
Genre: fantasy
Illustrations: pencil
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LibraryThing member dangerlibearian
Good read aloud/maybe a little long. A cart full of musicians get stuck in a hole, no one can pull them out, until a bee sting the mule and they are free.
LibraryThing member RebeccaMichelet
Berlioz the bear is a musician who plays the double bass. One day while he was practicing for the concert, he noticed his bass making a strange buzzing sound. It was soon time to leave for the concert, and on the way there with the band, the wagon gets stuck in a hole. No matter what he does,
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Berlioz could not get the mule to move. One by one a different animal appears and tries to pull the mule up, but they all fail. Meanwhile, while the other animals try to get the mule to move, Berlioz and his orchestra got ready for the concert. It was while they were warming up, that a bee came out of the bass, and stung the mule. It was because of the bee, Berlioz and the orchestra was able to make it to the concert in time.
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LibraryThing member awoodham93
Berlioz the bear's double bass is making a strange buzzing noise. Berlioz is concerned about his bass, but it is already time to leave for the orchestra performance! Berlioz and the bear orchestra are on their way, when suddenly the mule pulling their waggon falls, and is not getting up. Animals of
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all sorts stop to help, but no one can get the mule moving again. Berlioz decides to tune his double bass now, in case they are late to the performance. When he strokes his double bass, a bee flies out of the instrument and stings the mule on the butt! The mule bounces right up and continues to pull the cart. The bear orchestra makes it just in time for the performance, and Berlioz's double bass is no longer buzzing!
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LibraryThing member Lizziep
This silly book is a delightful book for children of young ages. It enlightens the reader about a bear who plays the bass and is nervous about his upcoming performance. It is great book to introduce a music unit to children and it will be certain to entertain them.
LibraryThing member dukefan86
Delightful story about a bear and his band, traveling to play at a ball. They run into trouble, but the story has a happy ending! Loved the illustrations too!
LibraryThing member jaelynculliford
Berlioz the bear plays the Base. A colorful book and fun read aloud for all your child to enjoy. Great for the music lovers and the ones who love animals.
LibraryThing member klamproe
Berlioz is a member of a band who is going to be playing at a gala ball. Leading up to the ball Berlioz keeps hearing a buzzing sound come from his bass, it causes him a lot of anxiety. Berlioz can't stop thinking of the buzzing as everyone loads into the wagon. As Berlioz is driving the wagon he
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is so distracted that he doesn't see a hole in the road and he got the front wheel stuck. Many animals come to help but nothing seems to work until a bee, having been disturbed by all the ruckus, come flying pout of Berlioz's bass. The bee stings the donkey and it flies forward and pulls the wheel free. The band reaches the ball and Berlioz plays wonderfully.
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LibraryThing member kristilabrie
One of my childhood favorites.
LibraryThing member Daumari
Is a classic. Lots of things to look at and point out.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1991

Physical description

32 p.; 9 inches

ISBN

0399222480 / 9780399222481

UPC

048228222484

Barcode

3190
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