A Christmas for Bear

Title:

Author:

Becker, Bonny, author.

ISBN:

9780763649234

Personal Author:

Becker, Bonny, author.

Edition:

First edition.

Publication Information:

Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2017.

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 25 x 28 cm

Abstract:

Celebrating Christmas for the first time, Bear and his friend Mouse have a party, but whenever Bear comes back from the kitchen with more treats Mouse has vanished in search of a present.

Subject Term:

Christmas stories.

Gifts -- Juvenile fiction.

Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.

Bears -- Juvenile fiction.

Genre:

Picture books.

Added Author:

Denton, Kady MacDonald,

Document ID:

SD_ILS:2279868

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Library	Collection	Collection	Call Number	Copy	Status
Searching... Atwater Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Auberry Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Book Area	B	Christmas	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Avenal Branch Library (Kings Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Child - Holiday	HOLIDAY JE BECKER		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Clovis Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Book Area	B		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Coalinga District Library (Coalinga-Huron)	Searching... Unknown	Juvenile Holiday	E BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Delhi Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Dos Palos Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Gustine Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Hanford Branch Library (Kings Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Child - Holiday	HOLIDAY JE BECKER		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Hilmar Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Kettleman City Branch (Kings Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Child - Holiday	HOLIDAY JE BECKER		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Kingsburg Branch Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Book Area	B		Searching... Unknown
Searching... LeGrand Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Livingston Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Los Banos Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Porterville Public Library (Porterville)	Searching... Unknown	Holiday Picture Books Area	BECKER AR 2.6		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Santa Nella Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Snelling Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Stratford Branch Library (Kings Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Child - Holiday	HOLIDAY JE BECKER		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Winton Branch Library (Merced Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture	XE BEC		Searching... Unknown
Searching... Woodward Park Library (Fresno Co.)	Searching... Unknown	Children's Picture Book Area	B		Searching... Unknown

Bear's minimalist holiday celebration has an eager Mouse feeling a bit anxious in this humorous and heartwarming story about the unlikely, lovable pair.

One frosty night, Bear hears a tap, tap, tapping on his front door. "Merry Christmas!" cries Mouse. Mouse is there for a Christmas party, and Bear has never had one before, but he's certain that pickles (preferably from France) must be an essential component, along with the reading of a long and difficult poem. The problem is, whenever Bear comes back from the kitchen with more treats, Mouse has vanished -- only to be found, small and gray and guilty-eyed, scurrying under the bed or rifling through the closet. Will there be even a tiny present involved? "Hogwash!" scolds Bear. Get ready for holiday anticipation and the best kind of surprises as the curmudgeonly Bear and a hopeful Mouse return in a warm, funny tale full of holiday cheer and true friendship.

Author Notes

Bonny Becker has degrees in Psychology and in English/Creative Writing.

Bonny's stories come from life. Her books include the Bear and Mouse series, The Magical Ms. Plum, My Brother the Robot, and An Ant's Day Off.

Bonny lives with her husband and 2 children in Washington state.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (5)

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1-Becker and Denton team up once again for a holiday episode that sweetly acknowledges how the friendship between Bear and Mouse has grown from their first meeting in A Visitor for Bear and the multiple titles since then. The watercolor, ink, and gouache illustrations remain consistent, as does Bear's and Mouse's routines. Bear, committed to propriety and insistent that Christmas be all about poetry and pickles, is repeatedly foiled by the "small and gray and bright-eyed" Mouse and his ability to disappear from a room, this time to look for presents. He is as effervescent as ever and only subdued when Bear seems unlikely to waver from his oratory plans. However, Bear, doubling down on his curmudgeonly ways with comically pointed and increasingly louder hints to Mouse, makes the Christmas magic reveal even more of a surprise. VERDICT The warm and playful use of the familiar story structure and characters make for a read-aloud that will add smiles to the holiday.-Joanna Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Bear is hosting his first-ever Christmas party in this addition to the Bear and Mouse series, but while he believes that "Christmas pickles" are the most important element of a successful party, Mouse is preoccupied with presents for some reason. Tension builds as Mouse keeps darting off, trying to find the gift he believes must be hidden somewhere in Bear's house, testing his friend's patience. Both text and art will draw smiles as this awkward holiday gathering unfolds, and especially as Bear's frosty temperament begins to thaw. And, yes, presents-not just pickles-are eventually exchanged. Ages 5-9. Author's agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Horn Book Review

Although hes decked the halls for his first proper Christmas, Bear (A Visitor for Bear, rev. 2/08; and sequels) is bah-humbug on presents. Incredulous, Mouse hunts for hidden loot, but Bear is immovable: Christmas means a long and difficult poem, gingerbread bears, and, oddly, pickles. Mouse brightly persists; Bear stubbornly resists; and so it goes until Bear begins reciting A Visit from St. Nicholas, emphasis on the stockings. The stockings are indeed hung by the chimney with care--proof that the Scrooge routine is (mostly) an act. This odd couples banter is evergreen in their sixth book. Cozy illustrations are full of good cheer. kitty Flynn (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

In their sixth adventure together, best friends Bear and Mouse celebrate Christmas with pickles, a poem, and presents. Bear invites Mouse to their first-ever Christmas party, although Bear knows only what he's read about how Christmas is celebrated. He announces that eating pickles and "reading a long and difficult poem" ("A Visit from St. Nicholas") should be enough for their party, but Mouse is most interested in the possibility of presents. Grumpy Bear pretends to reject the notion: "Monstrous assumption!" Ever hopeful, Mouse repeatedly escapes from Bear to search the house for gifts, finally locating his Christmas stocking with a tiny telescope tucked inside. Taking the telescope outside to view the night sky leads to a search for Bear's present, a huge sled that Mouse has somehow hidden under a snow-covered tree. In a satisfying conclusion, Bear and Mouse gleefully sled down a hill "under the shining stars of Christmas." Bear's curmudgeonly personality and Mouse's cheerful antics provide droll humor conveyed with polished comedic pacing and clever phrases such as "a mournful bite of pickle." Soft-focus illustrations in watercolor, ink, and gouache are particularly strong in the subtle expressions on the animal faces as well as in meeting the design challenge of including a huge bear and a tiny mouse in one environment. Another appealing adventure for this delightful duo, just right for a Christmas Eve storytime, perhaps enjoyed with a plate of pickles. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Bear, who's only read about Christmas, invites Mouse to celebrate with him one year. Mouse arrives eagerly but soon begins to doubt that Bear has his priorities straight. There's a beautifully decorated tree, yes, but where are the presents? Mouse even searches the house a bit. Miffed, Bear serves Christmas pickles and promises to read a poem, a long and difficult poem. Deflated, Mouse settles down with his pickles, cheese, cookies, and tea while Bear begins reciting 'Twas the Night before Christmas, loudly repeating the line The stockings were hung by the chimney with care until Mouse, overjoyed, finds his present at last. But will Bear find his? Written to create rising tension and release it with a joyful surprise, this tale perfectly captures the essence of the prickly but softhearted bear and the childlike mouse who befriended him in A Visitor for Bear (2008). Denton's warm, expressive illustrations heighten the drama and underscore the affection between these two well-loved characters. An amusing, original holiday story.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist