Bear in a Square (A Barefoot Board Book) [Board book]

Stella Blackstone (Author), Debbie Harter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000 | ISBN-10: 1841482870 | ISBN-13: 978-1841482873 | Edition: Brdbk

Share the adventures of Bear as he wanders through all sorts of familiar environments, discovering different shapes along his way. Meet Bear at home, at school, in a swimming pool, in the park, in a cave, and at the circus. And if you look closely, you'll find squares, circles, triangles, zig-zags and stars hidden in each scene!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-This very simple title teaches shapes and counting. However, since the illustrations are clear and realistic and the colors are true, it could be used for color and object identification as well. Starting with a double-page spread of a building with three square windows and a door, the text asks readers to find the bear in the square. A strip on the side gives a clue as to which window is the correct one. The text on the next page asks children to find the two hearts in the queen's hair, and the right-hand strip shows the shape to search for. The book continues through 10 stars in the dark. The shapes include simple ovals and stars but also zigzags, triangles, and crescents. Specific numbers are not mentioned, but youngsters will realize that the quantities of objects are increasing. Some of the illustrations are whimsical such as moons in a cave but others are realistic with balls in a swimming pool and rectangles in a classroom. Therefore, the presentation also offers opportunities to talk about realism versus fantasy. An engaging, brightly colored matching game for storytimes or for teaching concepts.
Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 3^-5. Bold graphics with bright colors and eye-zapping patterns will draw children to this picture book of shapes. Each spread invites children to search the double-page spread for a particular shape, which is also shown in a banner down the edge of the right-hand page. Those enamored of using one book for many purposes will want to note that the first shape appears in the banner once, the second shape twice, and so on, giving the book an alternative use as a counting book. The rhyming text challenges kids to "Find the circles in the pool / Find the rectangles in the school." Most of the shapes are clear, though "Find the moon . . ." is a bit confusing, since the moon is sometimes a circle; here moon appears to mean a crescent. Although better books on shapes are available, this concept book will find an audience. Recommended for larger collections. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Board book: 24 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books; Brdbk edition (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841482870
• ISBN-13: 978-1841482873
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #305,474 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Cheerful Look into the World of Shapes, December 22, 1999

By 

Dawn Woolcott (Vancouver WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bear in a Square (Bear Series) (Hardcover)

This bright, colorful book with whimsical illustrations is fun to look at. The big, bold words are easy for children to read, and the rhyming text is simple. It encourages children to look for the shapes hidden within each picture. While it has no real story line, it is valuable as a tool for learning shapes and colors. It may be a bit too simplistic for some, if they are of reading age. It might be more appropriate as a board book, rather than a hardcover.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learned shapes at 12 months, February 6, 2005

By 

joc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bear in a Square (A Barefoot Board Book) (Board book)

My son has loved this book from the start. I thought he was just fascinated by the vibrant colors and pictures, but evidently it is also a valuable learning tool. He knew all the shapes by 12 months. He is 18 months now, and we still read this book, making up stories about the pictures. He still likes being 'tested' on the shapes at the end, though of course he knows it by heart by now.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great baby book, October 3, 2001

By 

Julie Rainwater (Pleasant Hill, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bear in a Square (Bear Series) (Hardcover)

I have this book as a board book, which is good because it's appropriate as a "baby's first" type of book. I just love it and my one year old just loves the bright pictures. When I put it down to get another one, he points to it again. The rhyming text is wonderful and the pictures are really cool and artsy and bright. My 3-year old also likes it because she understands how to find and count the shapes. I really recommend this one - perfect for a baby gift or first birthday!