Anytime Mapleson and the Hungry Bears [Library Binding]

Mordicai Gerstein (Author), Susan Yard Harris (Illustrator)

Book Description

When he meets a family of hungry bears in the woods at the peak of maple sugaring time, Anytime Mapleson, who likes pancakes anytime, invites them home for some pancakes and maple syrup.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

This gem of a pancake story masquerades at first as a quiet, on-the-level depiction of the sugaring process. Anytime Mapleson (who likes his pancakes with syrup any time, day or night) helps his family tap their sugar maples, clean the syrup boiling pan, and gather firewood on a blustery March New England day. Just as readers settle in to nothing more than a pleasant peek into this interesting routine, the story explodes into an outrageous fantasy: while checking on his sap buckets, Anytime finds a bear family with buckets stuck on their heads. He rescues them and dresses them in his own clothes (leather-topped duck boots over the ears, plaid flannel shirt tied around the neck), and passes them off at home as pals, copping them an invitation to a pancake breakfast. A charming tall-tale ending tops off the silliness. The story is great fun, but even better (liberating, in fact) is its friction-free transition from realistic to absurd--so easy, imitating the way children shift without effort or judgment into a daydream mode. Harris' whimsical illustrations in pen and ink with colored pencil are right on target throughout the book, lending credibility to the fantastic and mischief to the realistic. --Liza Bliss, Worcester Public Library, MA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (September 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060224150
• ISBN-13: 978-0060224141
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,265,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginitive and Funny - I hope it comes back into print., February 2, 2003

By 

"weeppel" (Lake Forest, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anytime Mapleson and the hungry bears (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful, humorous story about a family that loves Maple Syrup (and make their own each winter) and the son's encounter with a hungry family of bears. I read this to my daughter's first grade class, and they really laughed!