Little Bear's Little Boat

by Eve Bunting, Nancy Carpenter (Illustrator)

Overview

Little Bear loves his little boat. But Little Bear soon begins to grow and grow, until one
day he doesn’t fit in his little boat anymore! All children who experience growing pains
will appreciate Little Bear’s predicament. And they will smile with satisfaction as the
solution to his problem unfolds in simple, lyrical words and charming pictures from
two award-winning picture-book creators.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547719030
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/06/2012
Pages:	30
Sales rank:	1,066,655
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Eve Bunting was the beloved, award-winning author of more than two hundred and fifty books for young people, including the Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, The Wall, Fly Away Home, and Train to Somewhere.

Nancy Carpenter, illustrator of many successful picture books, lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Editorial Reviews

"Familiar theme...positive message about sharing...the spirit of generosity...may be contagious to youngsters after reading this upbeat tale." —Publishers Weekly "Another healthy serving of charm and life lesson from the dependable Bunting...amicably depicted in Carpenter's dear, guiless pen-and-ink drawings." —Kirkus Reviews "Children will listen intently to this tale...softly colored, uncluttered illustrations...have an old-fashioned charm......will resonate with many children." —School Library Journal "A sensitive, affecting story about growing up and leaving favorite things behind...with charming ink-and-paint illustrations...Reassuring and well told." —Booklist, ALA —

From the Publisher

Life on Huckleberry Lake is idyllic for Little Bear as he sits in his small wooden boat. He rows, he fishes, and "on sunny days he lay back in it, closed his eyes, and dreamed. And he was happy." Until, that is, he grows too large for the boat. "It is a little bear's destiny to grow and grow till he is a big bear. It is a little boat's destiny to stay the same size," his mother gently tells her sad cub. Re-teaming with Twinnies collaborator Carpenter, who limits her palette for a pleasing retro look, Bunting evokes a familiar theme for preschoolers: the frustration of change. She also shows the rewards of problem-solving: the now Big Bear gives his boat to a smaller bear, making him promise to love it as he does (for it is "a little boat's destiny to keep sailing on a blue, blue lake," he explains). Unfortunately, the word "destiny" appears repeatedly throughout the story, and because the daunting concept is not explained in an age-appropriate way, it may confuse some young readers. However, a positive message about sharing does ring clear. The spirit of generosity that Big Bear feels as he brings happiness to another creature may be contagious to youngsters after reading this upbeat tale. The artist adds another fun twist: in a closing scene, the hero is hard at work building "Big Bear's Big Boat," indicating that passions begun in childhood can endure. Ages 3-6. (May) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-Little Bear thoroughly enjoys his cherished boat, until he outgrows it. While Mother Bear explains that it's a little bear's destiny to grow, he knows, "It's a little boat's destiny to keep sailing on a blue, blue lake," so he sets off to find another little cub to enjoy it. When he finds one, he hands over his treasured object and asks its new owner to pass it on when he becomes too big for it. Children will listen intently to this tale. The softly colored, uncluttered illustrations, created with pen and ink and digital media, have an old-fashioned charm. Written with the simple finesse characteristic of Bunting, this amiable, gently didactic tale will resonate with many children.-Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Another healthy serving of charm and life lesson from the dependable Bunting, this time concerning destiny by way of a rowboat. Little Bear has a love affair going with his rowboat. He pokes about the lake in it, fishes from it, dreams while draped across its thwarts, all amicably depicted in Carpenter’s dear, guileless pen-and-ink drawings. Then comes the day that Little Bear is little no longer and he swamps the boat with his bulk. His mother explains that "it is a little bear’s destiny to grow and grow till he is a BIG BEAR. It is a little boat’s destiny to stay the same size." But Little Bear has the boat’s interests at heart, and some insight up his own sleeve: "It is a little boat’s destiny to keep sailing on a blue, blue lake." So he sets out to find another little bear who will give the boat its due. The tradition continues, both for the little boat and for Bunting, who just goes on delivering classy tales of youthful metaphysics. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews