Bear's New Friend [Hardcover]

Karma Wilson (Author), Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: April 1, 2006 | Age Range: 3 and up | Lexile Measure: 370L (What's this?)

Bear is going to the swimming hole, but first he must find his friends.

There's a clatter in the tree! Is it Mouse? No . . .

"Who?" calls Bear.

Something quickly scampers by! Is it Hare? No . . .

"Who?" calls Bear.

Someone seems to be hiding from Bear and his friends. Who is it? WHO?

How Bear and his forest friends discover a NEW FRIEND will enchant young readers. Karma Wilson's playful text and Jane Chapman's radiant illustrations make Bear's New Friend a perfect summertime read-aloud companion to the bestselling Bear Snores On.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–A mystery character is introduced in this fourth book about Bear and his friends. One summer morning, the cub heads out to play. He hears someone in the tree and thinks it might be his friend Mouse. But Mouse arrives and eliminates that possibility. So begins the guessing game that makes up the rhyming text as, page by page, the various woodland animals come on the scene narrowing the choices of the creature's identity. The refrain And the Bear asks, 'Who?' gives readers a heavy-handed clue, but not until the end does this shy newcomer make his appearance. Chapman's acrylic illustrations are as soft and cuddly as ever and the familiar rhythm works well for reading aloud. While this isn't the strongest of the titles, Bear's many fans won't want to miss it.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA
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About the Author

Karma Wilson’s picture books include the international bestseller Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, and Mortimer’s Christmas Manger, all illustrated by Jane Chapman; A Frog in the Bog, illustrated by Joan Rankin; Hilda Must Be Dancing and Bear Hugs, illustrated by Suzanne Watts; and Who Goes There?, illustrated by Anna Currey. She lives with her family in Fortine, Montana. Visit Karma at KarmaWilson.com.

Jane Chapman is the illustrator of several books for children, including Dilly Duckling by Claire Freedman and I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanagh, as well as Karma Wilson’s Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, and Mortimer’s Christmas Manger. She lives with her family in Dorset, England. Visit Jane at ChapmanandWarnes.com.

Product Details

• Age Range: 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; 1 edition (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689859848
• ISBN-13: 978-0689859847
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 11.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not nearly as good as Bear Snores On January 25, 2012

By M. Raupp

Format:Hardcover

i'll start this review with a confession: Bear Snores On is one of my family's favourite books. I know it by heart, as I've read it at least 100 times, and even though I know it so well, every time I read it, I get the same warm feeling in my stomach. The images, the prose, they all blend perfectly. A little bit of cheeky humour, a bit of friendship, all wrapped in a a scene of a cold, stormy night. Wonderful.
This book, Bear's New Friend, doesn't have the same joy. The images are still gorgeous, and the theme is a nice one, but it doesn't invite you in like the others in the Wilson/Chapman line up. There's not enough of anything happening, the friends aren't as involved as they can be, and the words just seem, well, not very well crafted.
Bottom line: if you don't yet have Bear Snores On, get it, and buy all your friends copies when you attend their baby showers! (Get the hard back as it will see a lot of wear!) If you do have Bear Snores On, I'd recommend Bear Wants More as a 2nd. But save Bear's New Friend for the library. It just doesn't have the same merit. Snif.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Always room for one more! September 15, 2009

By Jenn VINE™ VOICE

Format:Board book|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

My four year old and I really enjoy all of the bear story adventure books. This one was about a little guy that was too shy or scared to come out and meet his new friends. Bear and his forest friends helped to coax their soon to be new friend out and once they did, everyone enjoyed themseleves. Great conversation starter especially with school just beginning! This is a strong and durable board book with lots of colorful pictures for little siblings to follow along with. Recommended for the toddler, Preschool, and Kindergarten age groups.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Bear Is Back September 12, 2009

By Karen Joan VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

BEAR'S NEW FRIEND, by Karma Wilson, is a cute, simple story about making new friends. My wee one and I love our first introduction to Bear in BEAR STAYS UP FOR CHRISTMAS, and we could wait to read another Bear book.

In BEAR'S NEW FRIEND, Bear is in the mood to play, and so he goes off in search of his friends. But in the woods he catches sounds and glimpses of an unknown animal. Could it be a new friend?

Told in rhythmical, rhyming verse, almost (but not quiet) reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, BEAR'S NEW FRIEND is charming story that will appeals to younger children and those learning to read alike. The rhyming words and large print make BEAR'S NEW FRIEND an easy choice for beginning readers. Jane Chapman's illustrations are pretty, colorful, detailed, adorable, and fun. They bring the words to life, and put the child into the heart of the story.

BEAR'S NEW FRIEND is not quite up to the standard of BEAR STAYS UP FOR CHRISTMAS, but it is still an entertaining story, especially for fans of the Bear. My daughter is really enjoying this story, and gets a real kick out of sounding out all the words herself. BEAR'S NEW FRIEND is RECOMMENDED.