Chaucer's First Winter [Hardcover]

Stephen Krensky (Author), Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2009 | Age Level: 2 and up

Chaucer knows that bears are supposed to sleep through the winter. But it's much more fun to stay up and play!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—This addition to the crowded field of winter, bear, and snow books lacks internal logic and breaks no new ground. When his friends tell Chaucer (a little bear) that they will miss him because he will sleep through the winter, and his parents tell him it will be good for him, Chaucer "[is] not convinced." Instead, he stays awake, experiencing snowball fights, icy ponds, icicles, and sliding down hills. When a big storm hits, he builds a snow fort to protect his friends and, predictably, when spring comes, he falls asleep. Oddly, his parents appear in the background of a number of illustrations, awake as well. Cole's cuddly cartoon animals, which sport scarves but no other clothing, are rendered in acrylic paint, colored pencil, and ink. The pictures are large and inviting, primarily done in full-bleed spreads, with spot art and single-page illustrations adding motion and interest. For a better book about a bear resisting hibernation, stick with Catherine Walters's When Will It Be Spring? (Dutton, 1998; o.p.). Leonid Gore's Danny's First Snow (S & S, 2007) and Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962) do a better job of exploring the joys of winter.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT END

Review

"Cole's acrylic, pencil and ink illustrations contract winter's cool pallette with the warm hues of CHaucer and his friends, whose youthful exuberance bounds across the pages...Young readers will enjoy witnessing Chaucer's delight in the wonders of winter as well as his welcome return home."--Booklist

"Krensky's text shines in its use of dialogue."--Kirkus Reviews

"The standoued element of this clever book is Chaucer's naivetÉ and wonder as he experiences winter's offerings, and Krensky's descriptive writing neatly conveys his joy in exploration; young readers will readily identify with Chaucer's preference for ice skating over napping. Cole's acrylic, colored pencil, and ink illustrations...efectively showcase the wonders of the season."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; 1 edition (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416990267
• ISBN-13: 978-1416990260
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 11.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,099,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars CHAUCER ENJOYS WINTER AND SO WILL YOUNG READERS, October 15, 2009

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chaucer's First Winter (Hardcover)

With Fall nipping the air we know that Ol' Man Winter's on his way, so it's a perfect time to meet Chaucer, a cuddly little brown bear who is perplexed when his best friends, Nugget and Kit, say, "We're going to miss you a lot." Chaucer wanted to know where he'd be when they were missing him, and was told that he'd be sleeping because that's what bears did.

His parents verified that fact for him - bears slept in the winter. However, Chaucer was not convinced, so when his parents settled down to snooze he went outside. Snow fascinated him, especially the flakes that landed on his nose and tongue. "It's magic," he said.

His friends were very surprised to see him, and immediately decided that they had to teach him about snow. Well, save for slipping on the ice Chaucer loved everything about winter and so will young readers as they see it through this little bear's eyes.

Krensky, the author of over 100 children's book, has penned an easy reading story that rolls joyfully along. Artist Henry Cole uses acrylic paint, colored pencil, and ink to create full page illustrations that are both tender and comical.

- Gail Cooke

1.0 out of 5 stars Bad Moral Impliciations, January 31, 2012

By 

R. Cairns - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chaucer's First Winter (Hardcover)

This books art work and illustrations are wonderful. However this story teaches a very bad moral. it teaches that it is okay to shun nature. It teaches its okay to disobey authority and it teaches you can do what you want and not have any negative consequences. Good thing the beer is cute.

4.0 out of 5 stars Chaucer, January 31, 2010

By 

Gimme The Scoop - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chaucer's First Winter (Hardcover)

Little Chaucer is really upset at the thought of missing out on winter fun with his friends so when his parents are fast asleep in their cave he slips out and explores his first Winter!

Cute little story and sooo reminds me of how the kids really are at bedtime alot not wanting to go "seepy" wanting to keep playing instead and then when it's time to get up they wanna "seepy"! Has Beautiful illustrations!