Ages: 3-5 ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grade 1
Awards: the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, and two Christopher Awards ( )

Independent Reading Level: Grades Pre-k-K

I’m a bit disappointed in this book, and I usually love Yolen. The main part of the story rhymes and is quite lovely, but if you read the parts that are not printed in black, they start by rhyming and then fall short. Plus the story seems to end abruptly. The illustrations are okay, and I actually like those better than I do the story in general. ( )

Prolific children's author Jane Yolen spins a cumulative tale in this new picture-book offering, chronicling the visit of a series of animals to a little girl's porch. Although she at first tells each animal, starting with the titular bear, that they can't stay, she ends up relenting. But what happens when one visitor too many sits on the porch...?

With a rhyming text from Yolen, and bright, cartoonish artwork from illustrator Rilla Alexander, A Bear Sat On My Porch Today is one that I think would make an entertaining read-aloud selection. I don't know that it was quite to my taste - perhaps I'm just reading too many stories right now, about a series of animal visitors? - but I think many young children will find it enjoyable. Recommended to Yolen fans, and to anyone looking for new cumulative tales told in rhyme. ( )