Bears and Blossoms

by Shirley Parenteau, David Walker (Illustrator)

Overview

The springtime trees are flowering, and the adorable bears from Bears on Chairs are ready for a picnic under the blossoms.

When Big Brown Bear and the four little bears notice that the trees are shimmering in the wind with spring blooms, they know just how to spend the day: a picnic. The blustery weather is perfect for flying kites, and the bears can’t wait to frolic under the cherry blossoms with the busy bees and eat a lunch of bread with honey. It’s time to send the kites up into the air — but the winds are so strong, they carry the little bears up off the ground and away! What will Big Brown Bear do?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763697556
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	03/13/2018
Series:	Bears on Chairs
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Shirley Parenteau is the author of six other picture books about the bears, as well as the Friendship Dolls middle-grade fiction series. She lives in Elk Grove, California.

David Walker has illustrated many children’s books, including the six previous books in the Bears on Chairs series and the Peep and Ducky books by David Martin. David Walker lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

Walker's acrylic illustrations convey the curiosity, wonder, and excitement of the small bears as they walk and play under pink blossom-laden trees. Another season, another warming tale of bear friendship and fun.
—Kirkus Reviews

The use of acrylic paint gives the illustrations a soft appearance and smooth texture. The entertaining antics of the characters will capture the attention of young children. The bears seem to be full of energy as they run, climb, and soar through the sky. This rhyming read-aloud is perfect for introducing and teaching young ­children about spring.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
PreS-K—It's a beautiful spring day and the little bears want to play under the blossoming trees. The cubs start packing all of the good things they will need for a fun picnic. They bring honey and bread for lunch, drums for music and marching, and bright kites to fly in the sky. Big Bear helps them pack everything up and then they all head out to spend a day in the sun. After finding the perfect spot, the young bears set off to fly their colorful kites among the falling pink blossoms. Big Bear wants to sit and eat his lunch but his appetite will have to wait. The wind starts to blow stronger and it takes his bread and honey away. But then it also picks up the cubs with their kites and they take flight! Fortunately, Big Bear is there to help out. The use of acrylic paint gives the illustrations a soft appearance and smooth texture. The entertaining antics of the characters will capture the attention of young children. The bears seem to be full of energy as they run, climb, and soar through the sky. VERDICT This rhyming read-aloud is perfect for introducing and teaching young children about spring.—Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

School Library Journal

2018-01-13
Five bears enjoy a day of picnicking and playing together under the blossoming trees in this latest in Parenteau's Bears on Chairs series. Yellow, Fuzzy, Floppy, and Calico are excited to be preparing for a day of adventures together. They pack a picnic basket and kites, and Floppy provides the music with her drum. Big Brown Bear brings the picnic blanket. But before he can taste his honey-slathered bread, the breeze changes to a strong wind, which prompts the small bears to dash off to fly their kites…and themselves, as it turns out. When the wind dies down, Big Bear is there to break their landings, and they all sit down to finally enjoy their honey. Parenteau's meter is a bit mixed in this outing, which also seems thin compared to others in the series. There's no problem-solving: just some mild tension that turns to fun. Mostly it's a tale of friends enjoying a beautiful spring day and one another's company, which offers its own satisfaction. Walker's acrylic illustrations convey the curiosity, wonder, and excitement of the small bears as they walk and play under pink blossom-laden trees. Another season, another warming tale of bear friendship and fun. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews