Bear's New Friend [Hardcover]

Karma Wilson (Author), Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Book Description

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 previous picture books include Bear Snores On, Bear Wants More, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, and Mortimer's Christmas Manger, all illustrated by Jane Chapman, One Day in the Middle of the Bog, illustrated by Joan Rankin, and Hilda Must Be Dancing and Bear Hugs illustrated by Suzanne Watts. She lives with her family in Fortine, Montana. Karma Wilson's website is 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

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; 1 edition (March 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689859848
• ISBN-13: 978-0689859847
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 11.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Birds
  • #89 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bears

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

NuMom (Downingtown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bear's New Friend (Classic Board Books) (Board book)

(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 "Siren" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bear's New Friend (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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very nice longer-format story in board book form, July 16, 2009

By 

N. Ferguson "Two, Daisy, Hannah, and Kitten" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bear's New Friend (Classic Board Books) (Board book)

(What's this?)

This very sweet story is longer than most board books, with 21 pages of text. Plot is simple-- Bear and other kind forest animals find and welcome a shy new forest friend (an owl). The story is delivered through charming rhyme and very special, emotionally rich illustrations.

Jane Chapman has a real genius for creating warm, expressive, and friendly illustrations for children. Strongly recommended for toddlers.