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Library | Material Type | Shelf Number | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Hillview Branch | Juvenile Book | E PHAM | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
This book is about Bear... so what happens when he doesn't show up on his page? Who will find him? Will it be Giraffe, who himself seems to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time, or Cow, or perhaps even the author herself?
One thing's for sure--it probably won't be Duck. Duck doesn't seem concerned that Bear is missing. In fact, he seems to be trying to steal the show for himself! Duck would much prefer that the reader pick up his own book, The Duck Who Showed Up . He even disguises himself as Bear in an attempt to fool the reader. But after pages and pages of Duck's antics and search-party chaos, Bear appears somewhere utterly unexpected. In fact, it looks like someone may have tried to get rid of him on purpose....
LeUyen Pham's The Bear Who Wasn't There takes readers a hilarious search for the missing title character.
Author Notes
LeUyen Pham worked in animation before turning to children's books, and has illustrated numerous other picture books in addition to The Bear Who Wasn't There . She lives and works in San Francisco, California, with her husband and her two adorable sons, Leo and Adrian.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-The author/illustrator draws inspiration from the one thing that has been missing from all of her previous work: a bear. All parts of the book, from the case cover to the inside front and back covers to the title page, make light of the absence of the bear. The text is metafictional, calling attention to itself and even bringing Pham in as a character late in the tale. Much of the narrative is told through dialogue in which a cast of animal characters provide information about the bear's whereabouts and suggestions for where to find it. Anticipation builds with each page turn and every new animal who appears. The large cast includes aliens, armadillos, koalas, sloths, dinosaurs, zebras, and more. The author speaks directly to readers in a tone that is fun and light. The mixed-media art supports the humor by depicting cartoon animals who have exaggerated features and exhibit many human actions, such as standing on two legs, drinking out of a straw, using a toilet and a bathtub, and performing acts of magic, while the search for the bear takes place. The ending offers readers the payoff they were waiting for. VERDICT This witty picture book is perfect for storytime.-Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Despite the title, the increasingly frustrated narrator of this lighthearted metafictional tale clearly expects a bear to show up: there are bear footprints all over the pages. But the other animal characters (plus one tree) are no help whatsoever. They include a spotlight-hogging duck who is busy shilling his own book, The Duck Who Showed Up; a prankster mouse; and a turtle wearing a fake bird's beak over his nose. "Where is the Author?" the narrator finally demands as the silliness escalates, but even though she dutifully appears (and bears a striking resemblance to Pham), she seems a little confused herself. "Did I draw all this?" she says, taking in the goofball characters who fill the spread margin to margin. "Man, I have been busy." The extensive repertoire of perplexed expressions, combined with lots of smart-alecky humor and sight gags (including a very funny, bear-shaped "bird pyramid" with the aforementioned turtle at its base) should leave readers feeling like they're in on a very clever joke. Ages 3-6. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
What to do when the featured character of the story the titular bear is missing? An eager mallard seizes the chance for his moment in the spotlight, dismissing bears as irresponsible and hawking his own story, The Duck Who Showed Up. Despite many diversions, a wildly diverse and abundant cast of animals continues their search for the bear even the author-illustrator shows up. At one point, the whole horde of creatures gathers across two pages to make sure there is no bear among them, though most of the pages provide an uncluttered narrative. While reminiscent of books like Mo Willems' Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003) and Kelly Bingham's Z Is for Moose (2012), this has its own personality with numerous animals making cameos a giraffe on a toilet, a moose about to be sawed in two, a boar, and a bare hare, to name a few. When you have plenty of crisply colored characters imbued with spirited temperaments and an interactive, engaging text, who needs a bear? Perhaps the mallard makes his point.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2016 Booklist