Bear Can Dance!

by Suzanne Bloom

Overview

In Suzanne Bloom's lovable story, the seventh in the popular Goose and Bear series, Bear discovers that not getting what you want isn't always a bad thing. In fact, it may lead to something surprising.

Bear wishes he could fly. He wants to swoop and glide and feel the wind in his fur. Yet no matter how hard he flaps his arms, he can't get off the ground. Goose and Fox offer support, but Bear remains earthbound—until he hears music. Suddenly, Bear is gliding and swooping and light on his feet.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781662620478
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	07/25/2023
Series:	Goose and Bear Stories
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,117,242
Product dimensions:	8.56(w) x 11.06(h) x 0.13(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 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

"The splendid friends boogie down... Both at the start and later on, big, fantastically shaggy Bear really cuts the rug in Bloom's elementally simple pastels... Bear in particular takes a star turn in the loving trio's latest welcome outing." — Kirkus Reviews

"Adorably funny and full of mischief, these beloved characters are sure to have children giggling.... (t)his book is perfect as a read-aloud as well as for one-on-one sharing." — School Library Journal

"Bloom's soft pastel artwork handily captures both the warmth of this three-way friendship and the wind in Bear's fur—while he cuts a rug." — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

09/28/2015
Bear, Goose, and Fox’s seventh outing sees Bear attempting to fly. All he wants is to “swoop and glide and feel the wind in fur,” but even after coaching from Fox (who outfits Bear with a cape and goggles), flight remains out of reach for the lumbering polar bear. With music pouring out of Bear’s portable turntable, the friends realize that dancing is “like flying, but with your feet on the ground. Mostly.” Bloom’s soft pastel artwork handily captures both the warmth of this three-way friendship and the wind in Bear’s fur—while he cuts a rug. Ages 2–6. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

09/01/2015
PreS-Gr 1—More than anything, Bear wishes that he could fly. He wants to feel the wind in his fur and glide through the air. His good friend, Goose, wants to help and attempts to console him, but at that very moment, Fox swoops in with a few misguided flying tips for Bear. After a few failed attempts, Bear, Fox, and Goose realize that there is a way that Bear can swoop and glide and feel the wind in his fur. He can dance! Fox, Goose, and Bear return in the seventh book in the Goose and Bear series. Adorably funny and full of mischief, these beloved characters are sure to have children giggling. A story that focuses on what one can do, this picture book will encourage perseverance and creativity in the very youngest readers. The full-page illustrations are beautifully painted and reinforce the humor in the story. The white print and large font against the blue hues of the background are crisp, clean, and inviting, making it easy for children to follow along. VERDICT This book is perfect as a read-aloud as well as for one-on-one sharing.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

School Library Journal

2015-06-10
The splendid friends boogie down. Hearing Bear's wish to fly—"So I could swoop and glide / and feel the wind in my fur"—hyperactive Fox rushes into view with a cape and goggles. But spinning about to Fox's instructions only leaves Bear feeling woozy. Fox's next idea involves a sled ride...which also doesn't end well. What to do? A portable record player (younger readers may need a bit of parental explanation here) turns out to be all Bear really needs to "swoop and glide": "It's like flying, but with your / feet on the ground. Mostly." Both at the start and later on, big, fantastically shaggy Bear really cuts the rug in Bloom's elementally simple pastels, demonstrating solo dance moves and poses that Dancing with the Stars entrants can only dream of and finally sweeping Goose and Fox up in a delirious collective whirl. Abrupt transitions from indoor dancing to outdoor sledding and back, plus jacket flaps that partially obscure the charming figures on the endpapers, are distracting but minor hitches in a joyful invitation to move to the music, any music. Bear in particular takes a star turn in the loving trio's latest welcome outing. (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews