In this rollicking metafictional romp, poet Nesbitt's first picture book, the bald author of a story is interrupted by anonymous voices that demand "MORE BEARS!!" ("Were those the voices of children shouting?"). Initially grumpy about the intrusion, the author complies--with every page turn there's another speech bubble calling for more bears--until there are "so many bears in the story that they couldn't all fit on the page." In Nickelodeon-ready cartoons, Cummings brings the idiosyncratic, one-of-a-kind bears to life, including Astrobear, who "was Bulgarian and always kept a hamster in his pocket, just in case," and "a papa bear, whose name, by the way, was Captain Picklehead, and a bear named Uncle Sheldon, who was bald and loved to play the ukulele." When the author finally decides to reclaim his story, any disappointment about the disappearance of the happy-go-lucky bears is mitigated by one last surprise demand for a story with... "More Chickens!" Kids will be shouting along with every request for more bears--it's a story that's made for read-aloud, though it's all but guaranteed to be a rowdy one. Ages 1–8. (Nov.)
"Some books have that certain something that keeps them in the reader’s memory and, More Bears, by the hilarious and talented Kenn Nesbitt, is one of those books.
From its highly creative and hilarious illustrations (by artist Troy Cummings) to its fast-paced and oh-so-cute storyline, everything about this picture book is adorable.
For a bear-stuffed, laugh-out-loud good time, give More Bears a try." — The Picture Book Depot "More Bears! is written by Kenn Nesbitt and is a delightful children’s book that had my little ones giggling from the beginning. This book centers around the premise that the author is writing a book with "absolutely NO BEARS in it-not a single bear anywhere but then one day…….." The illustrations by Troy Cummings bring the cast of More Bears! to life. There were Astrobears, Surfing bears, Juggling bears and so many more that my kids were roaring with laughter and shouting "More Bears! " by the end of the story. This book is excellent for pre-school to young elementary school age children who are sure to become active participants in the story. I highly recommend this fun and entertaining book..." — Simply Stacie "I was taken by this book as soon as I saw the cover. With the adorable illustrations, I couldn't help but fall in love with More Bears! Add to that it's cute and funny story and it was a hit with everyone in our house. We love books where even from the first time we read them, the kids can catch on to the pattern and finish sentences etc. With this book each page ends with you know that the next page will start with "More Bears! " A few pages in the boys would all yell "More Bears" when we turned the page. Of course, when you get to the end there is a twist!! This is a great book for all ages as everyone from my 2 year old to my 8 year old loved it." — Oh Boy Books! "More Bears! is a children’s book that teaches counting, repetition, colors and rhymes. It’s great for the little ones... The book is entertaining and intriguing to my children. We have read it numerous times and I catch my daughter constantly "reading" it as well (she just turned 4, so the term reading is used lightly).
What a great stocking stuffer!" — Mommies With Cents "Bears in cowboy hats, bears in space! You’ll be rolling when the grumpy narrator has his story overrun by these friendly beasts." — Parenting Magazine "Okay, it’s only fair to warn you that, if you decide to buy More Bears, by Kenn Nesbitt and Troy Cummings, you’d better expect to set aside every other book that you normally read with your children – at least for a month or two – because the only book they’ll be asking for, for quite some time after you first read it together, is...MORE BEARS! Get this book, but I’d point out that it's best used as a read aloud with your child because of it’s interactive nature. You’ll both have hours and hours and hours of fun." — Books For Boys "When More Bears! showed up in our mailbox, I was a titch reluctant to open it because of how highly I rate Kenn Nesbitt's poetry books. What if his first crack at a picture book didn't measure up? Yeah, that was a complete waste of a good worry. Kenn is brilliant about knowing what children will like and being able to insert just the right amount of wackiness. It follows that his picture book is hilarious." — For Immediate Release Reviews Kids "I love this book. No, you don’t understand. I really love this book. This reminds me of the interactivity of that old Grover book, the on "There is a Monster at the End of this Book" or something like that. Each page brings interaction with your child and reader’s audience. I love it! The poetry is so much fun and attractive to the ear... I definitely recommend this for a keeper shelf for every child." — Creative Madness "The book screams "read aloud." It looks like it was written for storytime. If you have any shouters, they'll delight in yelling, "More bears!" on nearly every page." — The Infant Bibliophile "The first time we read More Bears it took awhile to figure out the theme for her. But once it clicked then it was a giggle with each turn of the page. Next time we read it she started looking for each bear mentioned. And the third time she then figured out if the bears shown were from different scenes previously in the book. I have to give Princess Emma an A+ in memory skills. Ken, we have to say, yes books need more bears even when the author may not know it." — Crazed Mind "I really enjoy books that are interactive with the reader. More Bears! is a fun example of that. Cummings did a great job illustrating this entertaining story. Stylish colors and bears of all shapes and sizes add great dimension to the story. I loved this book." — Homespun Light "... a wonderful read-aloud... Recommended." — Library Media Connection "The bears are funny and charming, all with their own little quirks to distinguish them from the multitude... There is strong color on every page, and the bears are infused with zaniness and fun. The participatory refrain of "More Bears" will bring this selection to life at storytimes." — School Library Journal "More Bears, published this month, is award-winning poet Nesbitt’s first picture book. He brings his delicious sense of humor and playfulness with words to his young audience, and the story is wonderfully complemented with Troy Cummings captivating pictures with lots of details for readers to ponder. (Like the full-page illustration of Astrobear "who, by the way, was Bulgarian and always kept a hamster in his pocket, just in case.")" — Lit for Kids "The fun thing about this book is that kids interact with the author of the book to make sure that he includes lots of bears in the story! Kids will love to look at the pictures to see all of the fun bears in the book, such as "a bear named Elbow who wasn’t very smart and always wore his underpants on the outside of his regular pants." (That line definitely got a big guffaw from my boys!)...
More Bears! is an incredibly fun, interactive book that’s perfect for reading aloud, especially to more than one child so they can all yell "More bears!" together!" — Susan Heim on Parenting "Kenn Nesbitt is a master storyteller for kids. If you’re familiar with his silly rhymes and wacky poetry, and even if you’re not, you’ll want to check out his newest book for the youngest readers, More Bears!
More Bears! is full of repetition, counting, colors, rhymes and so many things children will love to have read to them over and over. The good news is, parents won’t get tired of obliging them. Illustrations, by Troy Cummings, are fun, and you and your child will enjoy matching each written-about bear to the drawing. The premise that children can influence what an author writes should be fun for kids to contemplate too. I highly recommend it for the littlest ones in your life and all the other little ones you know." — Mother Daughter Book Club "A great way to explain the concept of authors and how books get written to your kids and in general, it’s simply a hysterical story to boot. My son loves to yell out "More Bears! " along with the story – giving a similar sort of interactive experience as the infamous Pigeon books by Mo Willems." — Momma’s Review
"I really enjoy books that are interactive with the reader. More Bears! is a fun example of that.
Cummings did a great job illustrating this entertaining story. Stylish colors and bears of all shapes and sizes add great dimension to the story.
I loved this book." - Homespun Light
"The first time we read More Bears it took awhile to figure out the theme for her. But once it clicked then it was a giggle with each turn of the page. Next time we read it she started looking for each bear mentioned. And the third time she then figured out if the bears shown were from different scenes previously in the book. I have to give Princess Emma an A+ in memory skills. Ken, we have to say, yes books need more bears even when the author may not know it." - Crazed Mind
"The book screams "read aloud." It looks like it was written for storytime. If you have any shouters, they'll delight in yelling, "More bears!" on nearly every page." - The Infant Bibliophile
"I love this book. No, you don't understand. I really love this book. This reminds me of the interactivity of that old Grover book, the on "There is a Monster at the End of this Book" or something like that. Each page brings interaction with your child and reader's audience. I love it! The poetry is so much fun and attractive to the ear... I definitely recommend this for a keeper shelf for every child." - Creative Madness Margaret Chind
"When More Bears! showed up in our mailbox, I was a titch reluctant to open it because of how highly I rate Kenn Nesbitt's poetry books. What if his first crack at a picture book didn't measure up? Yeah, that was a complete waste of a good worry. Kenn is brilliant about knowing what children will like and being able to insert just the right amount of wackiness. It follows that his picture book is hilarious." - For Immediate Release Reviews Kids
For Immediate Release Reviews Kids
"Okay, it's only fair to warn you that, if you decide to buy More Bears, by Kenn Nesbitt and Troy Cummings, you'd better expect to set aside every other book that you normally read with your children at least for a month or two because the only book they'll be asking for, for quite some time after you first read it together, is...MORE BEARS!
Get this book, but I'd point out that it's best used as a read aloud with your child because of it's interactive nature. You'll both have hours and hours and hours of fun." - Books and Boys
"Bears in cowboy hats, bears in space! You'll be rolling when the grumpy narrator has his story overrun by these friendly beasts." - Parenting Magazine, School Years
PreS-Gr 2—The author of this story believes he has his plotline completely in hand as he begins. However, within three lines, unseen children begin to demand "More Bears!" The author tries to insist on his original vision, but caves in to their clamor. The bears begin entering the book, one by one, then in pairs, until there are more and more and more bears. The author then has to step back in and get rid of all the creatures crowding the pages. The bears are funny and charming, all with their own little quirks to distinguish them from the multitude. A father is called Captain Picklehead and Elbow wears his underpants on the outside of his clothes. Since the story is just the author/child interaction and naming the characters, the illustrations have to pop to keep the list from being overwhelming. Cummings's smooth, digitally rendered artwork does the job admirably. There is strong color on every page, and the bears are infused with zaniness and fun. The participatory refrain of "More Bears" will bring this selection to life at storytimes.—Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ
Teachers and librarians searching for sophisticated read-alouds will find much to love in this bear-saturated offering, as will parents looking for a change of pace. As an author attempts to write a story, he is continually interrupted by children's demands for "MORE BEARS!!" Initially conservative in the number of bears added, he is soon swept up in the excitement of plugging in new kinds of bears on each page. However, when the abundance of bears overwhelms the book entirely, the author casts them out and tries to write a new story. That is, until the last page of the book: "MORE CHICKENS!!" Nesbitt expertly melds his wittily monikered bears (example: Admiral Haversham, the English dancing bear, and Excellent Steve,the bear who surfs) to silly humor kids will dig.It's difficult to resist the hordes of firefighting, space-exploring, juggling, flying, conniving bears that pack these pages. Cummings adds just the right feel to the illustrations, going from simple images to crazed two-page spreads.A welcome addition to preschool and early-elementary storytimes and a surefire hit. (Picture book. 4-8)