A Splendid Friend, Indeed

by Suzanne Bloom

Overview

Bear wants to read and write and think. Goose wants to talk and talk and talk. Can Bear and Goose be friends? Suzanne Bloom's picture book says volumes about friendship with a few select words and charming illustrations in this Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629794082
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	09/08/2015
Series:	Goose and Bear Stories
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,023,992
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	150L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Suzanne Bloom is the author and illustrator of the ever-popular Goose and Bear series, including the Geisel Honor-winning A Splendid Friend, Indeed, as well as many books outside the series, such as I Just Like You, The Bus for Us and A Mighty Fine Time Machine. A longtime resident of upstate New York, Suzanne is a graduate of Cooper Union and is a mother and a grandmother. Visit suzannebloom.com.

Editorial Reviews

01/01/2016
Toddler-PreS—The Geisel Honor book is given a sturdier edition for small hands. The gregarious Goose interrupts Bear's reading and writing. The fowl's bubbling personality can't help but win over Bear, despite his intention of having a quiet afternoon. The spare text celebrates friendship, reading, and writing and is perfect for emphasizing early literacy practices. The figures' body language and facial expressions will induce giggles, and the sumptuous blues and whites will invite repeat reads.

School Library Journal

A more perfect union between giggle-inducing but reassuring images and a text of very few words is hard to conjure. The brilliant pastels open on a double-page spread of Goose trotting down a huge hairy mound, which turns out to be Bear, lying on his stomach with a book. "What are you doing? Are you reading?" asks Goose, perched on Bear's head. "I like to read" says Goose, sitting directly in front of Bear's book, and reading to him. Bear takes out his notebook and starts to write, and Goose wants Bear to see him write. Bear, visibly growing increasingly exasperated, is thinking now, and Goose notes that thinking makes him hungry and goes off to make a snack. He returns with a snack, a blanket and a note for Bear, who at this point is trying to hide behind his notebook. "You are my splendid friend," reads Goose's note, and Bear wipes away a tear and wraps Goose in a huge hug before the two sit down to share the snack. Bear's ursine fuzziness against a background of deep blues and Goose's small awkward, overeager self make an adorable contrast. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

"Bloom gets maximum effect with minimum words. . . . Fun to read aloud, the book will also lead to discussion about friendly (and annoying) behavior." — Booklist

★ "The gentle humor will elicit giggles; Goose's silly statements and Bear's patient responses beg to be read aloud. An ideal book for storytimes about friendship and sharing." — School Library Journal, starred review

★ "A more perfect union between giggle-inducing but reassuring images and a text of very few words is hard to conjure." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

From the Publisher