Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies

by Carmen Oliver, Jean Claude (Illustrator)

Overview

All the students in the class are assigned reading buddies, except for Adelaide. She already has one, a bear! And Adelaide is quite persuasive as she explains to her language arts teacher, Mrs. Fitz-Pea, and the reader, that bears really do make the best reading buddies: they sniff out good books and their claws are just right for turning pages. And the bear looks rather friendly (and studious) in these crayon-bright, contemporary illustrations, making this is must-read picture book for story time!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781484691410
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Series:	Fiction Picture Books
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	490,485
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jean Claude is a self-taught illustrator from Manchester, UK. This is his first picture book.

Interviews

Perfect fit for story time

Editorial Reviews

07/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—Mrs. Fitz-Pea (who wears blue cat's-eye glasses) needs to be convinced that bears make suitable reading buddies. Her student Adelaide convinces her that Bear is safe to have in the classroom by showing her how he makes reading fun (with cozy reading forts and loud roars of encouragement for pronouncing a hard word) and instructive (telling her to look at the pictures for clues and holding the book so they both can see it). "And if you get frustrated, they wrap you up in warm bear hugs." The pattern-filled illustrations show the two buddies getting lost in their stories and demonstrates how they search for their next good read. They add a great deal to the book's appeal. VERDICT Full of useful yet subtle hints about how to make reading fun for both young and older reading buddies, this book will find a ready audience at storytime and is also wonderful for one-on-one sharing.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

School Library Journal

2015-12-22
Dogs (and other children) are often used as reading buddies in schools and libraries, but bears may seem a bit unusual in that role. When school starts, Mrs. Fitz-Pea pairs up her students as reading buddies, but Adelaide has a surprise. She brings her own buddy, a large brown bear in a bright blue, patterned ski sweater. Although the teacher is frightened (she literally screams: "AHHHHH!"), Adelaide is quick to describe the talents of bears. "They know how to build peaceful places where no one bothers you while you read. They sit side by side, knee to knee, and put the book between you, so you both can see." In this double-page spread, Adelaide and her bear are pictured inside a flowered tent sitting on colorful pillows atop a granny-square afghan. Bears also encourage their human partners and "roar" their approval. When Adelaide finishes singing her bear's praises, Mrs. Fitz-Pea invites him in. The digital artwork has a retro look, and there is diversity in the classroom, including an African-American teacher. Bespectacled Adelaide, pale-skinned and dark-haired, uses some sophisticated language and says: "Bears know that once you get a taste for books, you'll discover trail after trail of adventure and clamber to new heights." Children will surely want their own large brown reading buddies after listening to this book about the joys and challenges of reading. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews