The Very Cranky Bear

This book is about a cranky bear, a plain sheep and the sheep's wonderful looking friends. The book has cute rhymes and teaches children that looking good is fine but being cleaver is even better because you can use your resources to solve a problem. The illustrations appear three dimensional and would appeal to a first grade level. ( )

Jake's Review: I liked this picture book, it was really funny and easy to read. I think little kids like my brother would like this book since the pictures are colorful and goofy. The rhyme sounds really good when you read it aloud and I'm sure mom would say the story has a good moral to it (parent's love that moral stuff) The book is also really strong so even my brother wouldn't be able to destroy it when he throws it across the room (Oh no mom's going to cry again when she reads this -- the midget doesn't like books)

Jake's Rating: 9/10

Mom's Review: OMG, I just adored this board book. The illustrations are worth the price of the book alone and will appeal to kids of all ages (and yes that includes overgrown kids like me). The rhyme flows nicely and would be a great story for reading aloud or for older kids to develop their language skills. The expressions on the animals are priceless and will make you giggle and smile. Story also has a nice message and its done in a non schmaltzy in your face way that kids will enjoy. You must go out and snag yourself a copy of this, you will not be disappointed. I'm still giggling over the picture of the bear dressed up like a lion.

Mom's Rating: 10/10 ( )

This story is filled with great illustrations that takes the reader on an adventure with four unlikely friends who are trying to cheer Bear up. The story will teach the kids that it is more important to be kind and thoughtful than to worry about looks and how people see us. I would use this book during Read Aloud to show how the pictures tell us about the personality and moods of the characters.

What a delight! Four young animal friends decide a dry but dark cave is the perfect place to take shelter from a downpour. They have just settled into a sociable game of cards when a weary, bad-tempered bear chases them out of the cave and into the rain. Three of the pals decide that the bear’s misery must be due to his rather nondescript appearance. When their ill-advised makeover does nothing to improve the bear’s mood, it is left to ‘a plain but thoughtful sheep’ to make the cantankerous bear comfortable.

This is my kids favorite book. We read it at least 4 times a week. The thoughtfulness of a plain sheep is all this bear needs to be happy. ( )