”Burgess and Chien add savor to a simple story with visceral writing and elemental artwork. . . . Chien creates each spread with a sense of freshness. . . . Burgess writes with nimble emotionality. . . . together, the creators deliver an essential message of self-acceptance”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“In the author’s and illustrator’s expert hands, readers are sure to feel lighter than air and ready for bed. The dreamy spread in which the bear receives his message from the moon is worth a mention all on its own, charming and cheerful as the rest of the book may be, as are velvety lavender endpapers featuring the balloon and the moon. [The Bear and the Moon i]s delightful as a balloon—but with more weight.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Simply told but deep with transcendent truth, The Bear and the Moon demonstrates the value of shared grief and the importance of forgiving ourselves.”—BookPage
“Burgess’ unassuming language is endearing. . . The pacing is flawless. . . Chien’s hazy, atmospheric illustrations. . . employ playful perspectives. . . [The Bear and the Moon] packs an emotional punch, and not just for preschoolers: it’s about no less than loss, self-forgiveness, and the ways in which memories can serve to mitigate grief.”—The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
“Kids who’ve ever broken a favorite toy will relate to the bear who takes his ‘squishable, huggable’ red balloon (which he thinks is a gift from the moon) everywhere until it pops. His feelings—first determination to fix it, then sadness when he realizes he can’t, and ultimately solace in the memory—are whimsically illustrated through a combination of charcoal, paint, and collage.”—Parents Magazine
“[T]he messaging is sweet. . . and the elegance of Chien’s artwork elevates the story to a steady place of beauty. . . This is a bedtime book to snuggle into.”—Booklist
“In spare, inviting verse, professor/poet Burgess highlights the absorbing power of young friendship, emphasizing that time together is no measure for the depth of the bond. . . . Burgess finds an ideal collaborator Brazilian artist Catia Chien, who lives in New York City and whose mixed-media illustrations imbue every vibrantly swathed, expressive page with resonating emotive range.”—Shelf Awareness for Readers
“Spare text and simple illustration will immerse listeners at story times in this quiet take on love and loss.”—School Library Journal
02/01/2021
PreS-K—A simple red balloon provokes joy, shock, sadness, and, ultimately, peace in this tone poem to kinship. The titular bear discovers a red balloon and immediately delights in it. "What a nice thing! What a wonderful thing! /What a squishable, huggable thing!" The balloon becomes a companion, and the bear eats, sleeps, and even sits "on the pot" with it. Then, in a playful moment, the balloon suddenly pops. After a period of denial, the bear falls into depression and self-loathing. Only the majesty of the full moon can help soothe the bear into a peaceful sleep, dancing with its beloved balloon in happy memories. Chien works with a primarily red and blue color palette in her mixed media illustrations. The simplicity of the outlines and colors create some truly lovely spreads, and the little bear is a charmer. Through the bear's expressive face, young children can easily discern and relate to many emotions. VERDICT Spare text and simple illustration will immerse listeners at story times in this quiet take on love and loss.—Jessica Ko, Los Angeles P.L.
★ 2020-09-23
A playful bear makes an ephemeral friend.
An expressive little black bear befriends something “red as a berry / and round like the moon / with a long silver string” in this sweet story. The bear has large ears, a white nose, and tottering, toddler-ish proportions sure to charm, and his buoyant companion somehow manages to “smile back at him like a friend” through vibrancy alone. The straightforward writing floats through Chien’s soft-textured, multimedia illustrations with heartwarming ease as the pair dance, find honey, and roll down a hill in glowing, abstract landscapes. When the inevitable occurs, as any little one enamored with something as squishable and huggable as a balloon will learn, the bear’s sorrow overcomes him. “Bad bear, / he thought. / Bad, bad bear. // Night fell, / but the bear / skipped his dinner.” The little bear sinks into deep blue spreads, but his grief melts even the heart of the moon, and with a little celestial reassurance, the bear comes to value his good memories, giving the book a satisfying amount of substance. In the author’s and illustrator’s expert hands, readers are sure to feel lighter than air and ready for bed. The dreamy spread in which the bear receives his message from the moon is worth a mention all on its own, charming and cheerful as the rest of the book may be, as are velvety lavender endpapers featuring the balloon and the moon.
As delightful as a balloon—but with more weight. (Picture book. 2-5)
