Bear on a Bike [Paperback]

Stella Blackstone (Author), Debbie Harter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2007 | Series: Bear

Bear on a Bike transports young readers around the world by bike, train, raft, boat and even hot-air balloon, with a special night-time journey at the end. As you cycle through the market, sail to an island and fly over the rainbow, you will discover marvelous creatures and see many wondrous sights.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A youngster hurries to keep up with a bear as he tries out various methods of transportation in Blackstone and Harter's eye-catching paper-over-board book, a companion to their Bear in a Square. Rhythmic quatrains in question-and-answer format establish the momentum for each spread: "Bear on a bike,/ As happy as can be,/ Where are you going, bear?/ Please wait for me!" A child runs after the bear, who answers on the following page: "I'm going to the market,/ Where fruit and flowers are sold,/ Where people buy fresh oranges/ And pots of marigold." A different environment emerges on each spread, whether the busy outdoor market peopled with funny shoppers (like the elderly lady with a rooster on her head) or the teepee-dotted prairie that the bear crosses by covered wagon. The abundance of bright colors and busy patterns is contained by tidy draftsmanship, so that the overall effect is manageably dynamic and frolicsome. This travel primer has plenty of get-up-and-go. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-A bear takes off to see the world on a variety of vehicles: a bicycle, a raft, a covered wagon, a steam train, a sailboat, a hot-air balloon, a carriage, and a rocket. As each mode of transportation is introduced, a young African-American boy calls out, "Where are you going, bear?/Please wait for me!" The bear takes the child along on his journeys where he discovers exciting animals, people, and places. As the bear blasts off in the rocket, the boy remains behind and calls out, "Wherever you are going, bear,/Goodbye and goodnight!" Despite several awkward rhythms, the story works as a read-aloud. The strength of this book, however, lies in Harter's flat, colorful cartoon art. Black-and-white accents in the cheery, sun-drenched landscapes unite the illustrations and add balance. The bear is depicted as a friendly, caramel-brown creature who comfortably walks through a multicultural world of interesting, jolly people. The playful pictures extend to the endpapers where the various modes of transportation glide across a turquoise background.
Shawn Brommer, Southern Tier Library System, Painted Post, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books; New edition (September 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905236980
• ISBN-13: 978-1905236985
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stella Blackstone has written many bestselling titles for Barefoot Books, including the popular Bear and Cleo series, An Island in the Sun, Secret Seahorse and Who Are You, Baby Kangaroo? Stella lives with her family in Somerset.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations with bright colors, & fun to read! March 14, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

My almost 2 year old enjoyed this book as much as I did when we read it at the bookstore. My son loves books, but when we are around so many in the store, it takes a very good book for him to sit and listen to the entire book without being distracted. This book kept his attention! I highly recomment Bear on a Bike for toddlers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! August 12, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I love this book. I read it to my 5 month old and it actually holds her attention. She loves the bright colors so much so that I will sometimes just lay her on the floor and open the pages for her. The rhyming doesn't bother me - the story is cute, so I'm sure I'll be reading it for some time to come!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Warm fuzzy feeling July 23, 2003

By Brenda Luers

Format:Hardcover

There is something special about this book. A great read outloud -- it still holds the attention of my four year old. Allows for the child to anticipate and read with you. Very cheerful in tone and illustration, simple, but still adds a couple of nice vocabulary words. My daughter has moved on to much more complicated books, but this one is still read and appreciated.