Spring Is Here (Bear and Mole Series)

by Will Hillenbrand

Overview

Mole can smell that spring is in the air, but Bear is still asleep after his long winter nap!

Excitedly he taps on the window and knocks on the door— he even tries playing a trumpet to wake his friend so they can celebrate together.  But Bear keeps snoozing. 

But Mole is determined, so he milks and gathers and bakes a special springtime surprise for his friend— the perfect way to wake up!

A perfect read-aloud, full of simple sound-words and lots of repetition, Spring is Here is ideal to share with young readers to celebrate the changing of the seasons.  Cozy mixed-media illustrations of big, fuzzy, dozing bear and his eager mole friend add detail and humor to the tale.

Don't miss the other Bear and Mole adventures— First Star, All For a Dime, Off We Go!, and Kite Day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823424313
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	01/02/2012
Series:	Bear and Mole , #1
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	165,629
Product dimensions:	10.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD270L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Will Hillenbrand has written and illustrated a wide range of picture books for children, including the popular Bear and Mole series. Spring Is Here won the Please Touch Museum Book Award. What a Treasure! a Pennsylvania One Book, was written with his spouse Jane Hillenbrand. Will lives in Ohio, and is the Illustrator and Author in Residence at Kent State University.  Find him on the web at www.willhillenbrand.com.

Editorial Reviews

"The repetition, ample onomatopoeia, and tender tone of the spare text, combined with heavily textured mixed-media renderings of this gentle pair of pals, create a sunny welcome to the season."—Publishers Weekly
 
"With its abundance of noises to join in on, its short, snappy sentences, its use of happily predictable repetition, and its engaging, tightly focused mixed-media illustrations, this should make a surefire read-aloud for preschoolers."—The Horn Book
 
"The mixed-media illustrations capture both the harbingers of early springtime and Mole’s enthusiasm, while Bear’s droll expressions are charming. A sweet, simple tale of the lengths we all go to in the name of friendship…and spring."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"With plenty of repeated 'sound' words, such as 'Sniff. Sniff. Sniff,' 'Squish. Squish. Squish,' and 'Tap. Tap. Tap,' the story is fun to read aloud and lends itself to audience participation. Nicely varied in composition, the mixed-media illustrations, which include many double-page spreads, show up particularly well from a distance. A good read-aloud choice for preschool units on hibernation."—Booklist
 
"Hillenbrand’s mixed-media illustrations have a warmly colored, textured appearance. With its well-placed repetition, this simply told tale is perfect for toddlers"—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Hillenbrand's (Don't Slam the Door!) simple tale treads lightly on familiar picture book ground: a perkier species tries to rouse a bear from his long winter's nap. In this case, the chipper critter is Mole, who has awoken to smell the fresh spring air and feel the mud under his feet with a "Squish. Squish. Squish." Despite his knocking, horn tooting, and tickling, the only response Mole gets from the slumbering Bear is "Snore." At last, a special homemade breakfast treat does the trick, causing Bear to wake up and smell the goodies, even as Mole's efforts leave Mole exhausted. These friendly animals have some of the coziest dens around—Bear snuggles in striped pajamas in a fluffy bed with comforter and pillows; Mole dashes about in blue gingham overalls and is a whiz with basic kitchen appliances. The repetition, ample onomatopoeia, and tender tone of the spare text, combined with heavily textured mixed-media renderings of this gentle pair of pals, create a sunny welcome to the season. Ages 3–6. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly