Bears and Boos

by Shirley Parenteau, David Walker (Illustrator)

Overview

The adorable bears are excited to dress up for Halloween — but are there enough costumes for everyone?

Big Brown Bear and the four little bears can’t wait to dress up for Halloween. Everyone grabs their costumes from the costume box, but — oops! — in the rush, Floppy is knocked on her furry behind, and now there are no costumes left for her! Fuzzy says she’s sorry and offers Floppy a golden gown. Then each of the other bears shares an item with Floppy, and soon she’s dressed like a queen — just in time for the parade! Shirley Parenteau and David Walker combine cheerful read-aloud rhyme and irresistibly charming art in another story for the youngest cubs and their big bears.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536208375
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	07/14/2020
Series:	Bears on Chairs
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.81(w) x 10.63(h) x 0.36(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Shirley Parenteau is the author of the Bears on Chairs series of picture books as well as the Friendship Dolls middle-grade historical fiction series. She lives near Sacramento, California.

David Walker is the illustrator of the Bears on Chairs series as well as many other books, including Flip, Flap, Fly by Phyllis Root and the Peep and Ducky books by David Martin. He lives in North Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

08/17/2020

These seasoned collaborators treat their feisty bear characters—first introduced in Bears on Chairs—to a Halloween adventure in their latest story touting the benefits of cooperation. Big Brown Bear subtly supervises as the four cuddly cubs dive—literally and greedily—into a cardboard box of Halloween costumes. When little Floppy is pushed aside, she patiently awaits her turn, only to find the plundered box all but empty. Unprompted, the others rush to offer pieces of their costumes, decking Floppy out in festive attire that makes her the self-described “holiday queen!” Walker’s simply rendered acrylic art packs oodles of expressiveness into the soft and fuzzy cubs’ faces and body language, affirming Parenteau’s message: “When the bears all share,/ the bears all win./ Let the Halloween/ celebration begin!” Ages 2–5. (July)

Publishers Weekly

The four-line rhyming text scans well, perfect for chanting along. Acrylic art in a pastel palette depict friendly bears with soft, rounded bodies, and the full-page spreads are nicely mixed with single-page illustrations. In what’s sure to be an unusual Halloween season, the simple pleasures and clamor of dressing up will be appreciated by preschoolers.
—School Library Journal

This latest in Parenteau and Walker’s Bears on Chairs series is a sweet, brief rhyming tale for very young children that emphasizes kindness and sharing—a fine message for Halloween or any time. The lilting verses move smoothly and rhythmically and express a familiar scenario. The colorful, expressive illustrations are endearing; minimal text and lots of white space per page focus attention on the characters and goings-on. Enjoyable holiday fare for the littlest trick-or-treaters.
—Kirkus Reviews

Written in rhymed couplets that read aloud smoothly and illustrated with expressive acrylic paintings, this picture book ends on an upbeat note that suits the holiday theme. An appealing addition to the series that began with Bears on Chairs (2009).
—Booklist Online

Walker’s simply rendered acrylic art packs oodles of expressiveness into the soft and fuzzy cubs’ faces and body language, affirming Parenteau’s message: “When the bears all share,/ the bears all win./ Let the Halloween/ celebration begin!”
—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

07/01/2020

PreS—The clan from Bears on Chairs is back, and they are plenty excited for Halloween. Choosing their costumes from a box becomes a mad grab for a gown, a hat, a wand. All the eagerness and crowding around the box causes Floppy to be knocked down and left with only a "crumpled-up sash." The other bears react to her disappointment and share their finds. Resolution comes quickly. "Their costumes look great, and their smiles do, too! The bears shout together, 'It's Halloween! BOO!'" The four-line rhyming text scans well, perfect for chanting along. Acrylic art in a pastel palette depict friendly bears with soft, rounded bodies, and the full-page spreads are nicely mixed with single-page illustrations. VERDICT In what's sure to be an unusual Halloween season, the simple pleasures and clamor of dressing up will be appreciated by preschoolers.—Ramarie Beaver, formerly at Plano P.L., TX

School Library Journal

2020-07-14
Does the box of Halloween costumes contain enough to clothe a passel of bears?

There’s a lot inside that carton: “hats, capes, and bats,” for example, and much more besides. And here come the four excited little bears, eager to comb through the contents to find the right trick-or-treat get-ups. At first, they find just what they want. Then, they simultaneously shout and pull at one another’s pickings as well, each desperately needing what another one has. The hubbub causes poor little Floppy to fall on her rear, so she tells Big Brown Bear she’ll wait until the others are done. Unfortunately, by the time everyone else has grabbed their stash, there’s nothing left in the box but a crumpled-up sash. Contrite, all the other bears willingly share their largesse with Floppy, turning her into the “holiday queen.” She leads the parade outdoors, all the bears dressed in their Halloween finest. This latest in Parenteau and Walker’s Bears on Chairs series is a sweet, brief rhyming tale for very young children that emphasizes kindness and sharing—a fine message for Halloween or any time. The lilting verses move smoothly and rhythmically and express a familiar scenario. The colorful, expressive illustrations are endearing; minimal text and lots of white space per page focus attention on the characters and goings-on.

Enjoyable holiday fare for the littlest trick-or-treaters. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews