Children's books and book reviews - reading resource for kids, teachers, librarians, parents

Beginning readers book reviews for developing, emerging and fluent readers



*A Birthday for Bear* by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton - beginning readers book review
 
Also illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton:

The Queen of France (Junior Library Guild Selection)
 
A Birthday for Bear
by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
Grades K-3 56 pages Candlewick September 2009 Hardcover    

Bear and Mouse are back together in their second story. This time the good friends who couldn’t be more opposite are celebrating a birthday.

Bear is very busy on his birthday, cleaning his house from top to bottom. Mouse wants to celebrate Bear’s birthday, so he suggests a party, but Bear kicks him out of the house. Mouse delivers balloons; rejected again. Dressed as Santa, mouse delivers a Christmas present to Bear, who declares “It’s not Christmas. It’s my birthday!” Bear roars, “I do not like BIRTHDAYS!”

Finally, Bear’s house is clean, Mouse is gone, and a pink box is delivered to his doorstep. Bear opens the box and discovers a birthday cake. After glancing around, he digs into the cake and out jumps Mouse. Finally, the two agree to celebrate Bear’s birthday with a little party and an especially big present: roller skates.

A delightful story for emergent readers A Birthday for Bear is organized into four chapters, each with a different focus and watercolor illustrations extending the relatively simple text expressing the emotions of the characters in their faces and actions in addition to the words.

The pictures as well as the text are full of humor as the friends banter back and forth. The characters’ personalities ring true to life, allowing readers to make connections between Bear and Mouse to people children might know – e.g. Mom, who always likes to get things done; Dad, who loves to have fun, etc. Highly recommended.
 
Beginning readers book reviews for developing, emerging and fluent readers

click here to browse children's board book reviews
click here to browse children's picture book reviews
click here to browse young readers book reviews
click here to browse young readers book reviews
click here to browse young adult book reviews
click here to browse parenting book reviews
 
web reviews
  Kristine Wildner/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book  






For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews,
visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)