From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1—"When I grow up in about a year" begins this tale of a cub's plans for adulthood. His ambitious ideas include having three friends move in with him so they can stay up late and play nonstop because he thinks that's one of the perks of being a big bear. Living in a toy store, building a tree house, camping, and exploring are also a part of his plans for the future. His earnest ideas always include friends or family with whom he can share his toys, his honey, and his explorations. The ultimate plan is to return home so that his parents can tuck him into bed and give him kisses, "one and two…/for that's what BIG bears always do." This third Baby Bear book by this duo is illustrated in the same bright, sunny hues as the others. The large mixed-media and collage pictures and the rhyming couplets make this title a treat for storytime or for sharing one-on-one.—
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Yolen and Sweet follow up Baby Bear's Chairs (2005) and Baby Bear's Books (2006) with a picture book exploring the little bear's optimistic plans. Written in first person from his point of view, the simple text puts forth Baby Bear's dreams of becoming a big bear. At first, his thoughts lean to the immediate, consisting of playing with friends all day, leaving their toys about, and staying up past eight o'clock. But as he thinks about it, the dreams become a little more far-reaching, with a tree house, a camping trip, and a triumphant poetry reading in his future. Full of action, and illustrated with fresh colors and pleasing details, the artwork creates Baby Bear's world as an appealing, even cozy place that children will want to explore visually while listening to the rhythmic, rhyming verse. Written with a good sense of the way young children think and express themselves, the text has a childlike air and reads aloud well. A fine new picture book for Baby Bear fans. Phelan, Carolyn
