Else Holmelund Minarik (1920–2012)

Little Bear spends some time with his grandparents in this fourth early-reader from author Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrator Maurice Sendak, enjoying everything about his visit, from the games he plays to the stories he hears. In Grandmother and Grandfather Bear, the first of four brief stories or chapters, he devours Grandmother Bear's delicious treats, and wears Grandfather Bear out with his play. Mother Bear's Robin features a story within a story, as Little Bear asks for and listens show more to a tale from his own mother's girlhood, when she briefly adopted a lost Robin. Goblin Story is another story within a story, this time related by Grandfather Bear, who spins the spooky tale of a little goblin who finds himself pursued by...something. Finally, Not Tired sees our little ursine hero waiting for his parents to come pick him up after his visit, insisting - even as he is falling asleep - that he is not tired.

I loved all five of the Little Bear books as a young girl, but Little Bear's Visit was a particular favorite! With a text that captures all the warmth of family love - Grandmother and Grandfather Bear are affectionate and wise, clearly understanding their Little Bear's needs and desires - and beautifully expressive artwork that is truly deserving of the Caldecott Honor it received, this is a truly brilliant little book. Rereading it as an adult, I was struck by some of the details - Little Bear informing his grandfather that he had been warned not to tire him out, and being told in return that Grandfathers don't get tired; Grandmother Bear and Little Bear complimenting one another on their skipping skills; Grandfather Bear telling Little Bear that it is OK to hold his paw while listening to a frightening story, because he (Grandfather) might be frightened - that make this story so rich, despite its textual simplicity.

Little Bear's Visit is, together with its companion volumes, one of the truly great contributions to children's literature - one I highly recommended to all young beginning readers, as well as to fans of Maurice Sendak's artwork. show less

Little Bear makes a human friend in this third early reader devoted to his adventures, discovering that allowing new people into one's life can bring both pleasure and sorrow. Like its two predecessors, Little Bear and Father Bear Comes Home, there are four brief stories presented here, beginning with Little Bear and Emily, in which little bear and little girl first meet and become friends. Duck, Baby Sitter sees the two meeting up with Little Bear's anatine friend, on their way to a party; show more while The Party at Owl's House sees Emily and her doll Lucy being introduced to Little Bear's circle of friends. All things must come to an end, and in Your Friend, Little Bear, our young ursine hero is distraught when Emily must leave at the end of the summer, but comforted by the knowledge that he can keep in touch with her through letter-writing.

First published in 1960, Little Bear's Friend was, together with its four companion volumes, an important part of my childhood library, and I can recall curling up with it on numerous occasions. Text and artwork - supplied by Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak, respectively - work together seamlessly in these stories, drawing the young readers in to a fully realized world, one in which the child perspective is treated with respect and depicted with sympathy. As is the case with all of the Little Bear books, I loved the interaction between Little Bear and Mother Bear here - the teasing dialogue and underlying affection - as well as the immensely expressive artwork. Little Bear looks a little softer to me here, for some reason - a little cuter than in the previous two, perhaps? - but his facial expressions are still as droll and winsome as ever!

All in all, a lovely little book, one that I would strongly recommend to beginning readers looking for real stories, rather than reading exercises disguised as stories. show less

Else Holmelund Minarik's five Little Bear books, which followed their eponymous ursine hero through some of the adventures of childhood, were one of the staples of my own personal library as a girl, and I recall reading them over and over again, until my copies fell apart. Gentle and reassuring, they are also wonderfully and subtly humorous, offering a perfectly realized depiction of a young child's interaction with the people and places in his own small world. Like subsequent installments, show more this first title contains four stories, each of which gently highlights some reality of child life.

In What Will Little Bear Wear?, our little hero repeatedly brings his sartorial troubles to Mother Bear, confident in her ability to solve the problem, only to learn eventually that he had what he needed all along. Birthday Soup plays with the common childhood fear of having one's birthday forgotten, allowing Little Bear the opportunity to make something for himself, before reassurance (and cake!) are offered. Little Bear Goes to the Moon sees the adorable bear setting off to have an adventure far away, discovering upon his return that playing a stranger is only fun if the strength of love and home are a solid reality, behind the make-believe. And finally, Little Bear's Wish finds the ursine mother and son enjoying the intimacy of bedtime, as Little Bear learns that some wishes are more likely to be granted than others, and that Mother Bear has wishes of her own.

Originally published in 1957, Little Bear was the very first entry in HarperCollins' iconic I Can Read collection, which to this day is considered one of the best beginning reader series available. It was an auspicious beginning, as it perfectly captures the gentle rhythms of childhood exploration and retreat, and of the child's bond with his mother. Rereading it as an adult, I was struck by the often humorous nature of the exchanges between Little Bear and Mother Bear, with their sly back-and-forth dialogue. Text and artwork - the latter supplied by the immensely talented Maurice Sendak, whose Where the Wild Things Are offers another perceptive depiction of childhood reality - make it clear that Mother Bear knows and understands her son's need for both freedom and safety: his desire to explore the outside world and then return to her. The sympathy for the child perspective that is evident here never feels condescending, however, and even though this is a book for younger children, the author respects her audience enough to be honest with them about some of the limitations - not every wish will be granted, for instance - that they will inevitably confront.

Beautifully written and illustrated, Little Bear is more than deserving of its status as a classic of children's literature, and belongs in every young person's library! Highly, highly recommended to all beginning readers. show less

Father Bear, who was not to be seen in Else Holmelund Minarik's Little Bear, the first of five beginning readers devoted to the childhood adventures of its eponymous ursine hero, appears in this second installment of the series, adding another layer of complexity, and bringing a different tone to the home and family life being depicted. Like its predecessor, there are four short stories here, beginning with Little Bear and Owl, which sees the first mention of the paternal figure, a fisherman show more who is often out at sea, and draws a comparison between father and son. In the titular Father Bear Comes Home, the long-awaited return actually occurs, and Little Bear, who has been telling all his friends about his father's likely adventures, discovers that some of what he hoped for (the actual return of his father) is fulfilled, while some (the appearance of a little mermaid) is not. Hiccups sees Little Bear suffering from that classic childhood complaint, and, after finding that none of his friends' suggestions for ridding himself of it are effective, being cured by his father's novel approach to the problem. Finally, Little Bear's Mermaid involves a river-side picnic with bear family and friends, and a continued preoccupation with mermaids.

Published in 1959, two years after the first Little Bear book, Father Bear Comes Home is (like all five titles in this series) a treasured memento from my reading childhood. Having recently been prompted to reread Little Bear by The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is "Classic Picture-Book Characters," I thought I would track down the entire series, and revisit the pleasures of early girlhood. I was bemused to note Father Bear's approach to curing hiccups - a combination of reverse psychology and shouting - here, as I had no memory of it. Other scenes, such as the heartwarming moment when Little Bear is first enfolded in his papa's loving arms, came rushing back to me. As mentioned in my review of Little Bear, these gentle stories perfectly capture the rhythms of child life, and show a delightful sympathy for and understanding of the child perspective. They are frequently humorous, but never snide or condescending. The artwork, contributed by the brilliant Maurice Sendak, is completely charming, highlighting the emotional undercurrents in the text, and drolly accentuating the humor of the characters' interaction.

In sum: a wonderful book, one that, together with its companions, is fully deserving of the accolades it has won. Recommended in the strongest possible terms to all beginning readers! show less