A Kiss for Little Bear (An I Can Read Book) [Paperback]

Else Holmelund Minarik (Author), Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: April 18, 1984 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 100L (What's this?)

Grandmother likes Little Bear's picture so much she sends him a thank you kiss. "Will you take it to him, Hen?" she says. Hen passes the kiss to Frog who passes it to Cat who passes it to Little Skunk until Hen decides there is too much kissing -- and finally gives the kiss to the Little Bear.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Else Holmelund Minarik first introduced readers to her timeless character in the classic Little Bear. Publication of this book, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak, launched the I Can Read series. This much-loved author continues to write stories for children at her home in North Carolina.

In addition to Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak's books include Kenny's Window, Very Far Away, The Sign on Rosie's Door, Nutshell Library (consisting of Chicken Soup with Rice, Alligators All Around, One Was Johnny, and Pierre), Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life, In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There, We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy, and Bumble-Ardy.

He received the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are; the 1970 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration; the 1983 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, given by the American Library Association in recognition of his entire body of work; and a 1996 National Medal of Arts in recognition of his contribution to the arts in America. In 2003, he received the first Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an international prize for children's literature established by the Swedish government.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 18, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064440508
• ISBN-13: 978-0064440509
• Product Dimensions: 0.1 x 5.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #96 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bears

More About the Author

Else Holmelund Minarik first introduced readers to her timeless character in the classic Little Bear. The book's publication, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak, launched the I Can Read series. This much-loved author continues to write stories for children at her home in New Hampshire.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars cute story for beginning readers and/or Little Bear fans January 16, 2003

By audrey TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This story about Little Bear is a charming introduction to the world of reading for beginners, especially for those who are already familiar with this gentle cub and his friends. Little Bear is a sweet child to his mother and father, and a good friend to Duck, Hen and Cat. Minarik's simple narrative will be easy enough for young readers, and Sendak's illustrations will hold their attention.

In this story, Little Bear draws a picture for his grandmother, and asks Hen to take it to her. When Grandmother sends a kiss back to Little Bear, Hen carries it until she sees some friends, then she passes it along to Frog, who carries it until he sees a pond and passes it on to Cat .... This is a fun story with a few simple lines and large illustrations on each page. Kids will enjoy the funny ending (and so will you).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Adorable June 20, 2008

By Karen Joan VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

A Kiss for Little Bear is a charming story about a young bear who draws a picture for is grandmother. Not surprisingly at all, this picture looks like one of the monsters from "Were the Wild Things Are." Little Bear has his friend Hen deliver the picture to Grandmother Bear. She is so delighted with the drawing that she sends Hen back to Little Bear with a kiss for him. The simple kiss gets passed on, friend to friend ("telephone style") until it finally gets to Little Bear. Little Bear ask Hen to take a kiss back to Grandmother Bear. But Hen refuses because "kisses get all mixed up." In the end, the girl and boy skunk get married, because they enjoyed the kissing. It is all very sweet and innocent.

My copy is 40 years old. I remember my mother reading this to me. It was then passed to my aunt to read to her children. When I was pregnant, my aunt gave it back to me. I love reading this enchanting story to my daughter. We giggle and trade kisses and have a great snuggle right before bed. This is another memory filled classic that I am truly thrilled to be able to pass on. Highly recommended.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF MY FAVORITE LITTLE BEAR BOOKS December 12, 2006

By D. Blankenship HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I felt the art work in this one was probably some of the best in the series and I did love the story. The story is simple, Little Bear sends a picture to his grandmother and it is taken to her by Hen. Grandmother, upon reciept of the picture wants to pass along a kiss to Little Bear. The kiss is passed from animal to animal until Little Bear receives his gandmothers kiss via the Hen. The story is cute, the illustrations are great and the kids love it. What more could you want. JUST A NOTE: I almost never refer to the review by another reviewer. In this case I will make an exception. There are Kisses and there are Kisses. I kiss my grandchildern all the time. I kiss cats and dogs and have even kissed a frog in my time. I can assure you there is nothing inappropriate in these kisses. It is an action as old as the human race. As to the skunks kissing, just what is so bad about that. You have a girl skunk that kisses a boy skunk, they enjoy it, they enjoy each other and then they get married. And this is bad? I can remember years ago first kissing my wife. We were all of fifteen years old at the time. We kissed for several more years, got married, had wonderful children and now have wonderful grandchildren and hope soon to have wonderful

great-grandchildren. This is bad? I frankly thought this was a good, healthy thing to add to this story and am glad the author did. Even at the age the book is targeted for, the wee ones should know about kisses. Recommend this one highly.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter showed real interest in learning how to read July 28, 1999

By [e-mail]

Format:Paperback

My daughter is 5 years old . She watches Little Bear on T.V. and wants to learn how to read this book because of the show . I will buy more of these books soon as long as she is interested in them . I will also buy them for my niece and nephew as well . I really like the easy to read words that don't discourage kids from wanting to learn to read .The paperback books are easy to take with us . Thank you ,

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone loves little bear! April 14, 2005

By bibliobethica

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is beautifully written and little bear illustrations are classic! The book is small, so it works best when reading to just one or two children. A great book for preschool age children.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the cutest books I've ever read July 3, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book is cute and funny! The way the animals pass on the kiss and little bear receives it makes this story one of my favorites. The Little Bear series is one of the best.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book for bedtime April 25, 2003

By DocRWM

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My son, 2 1/2, loves Little Bear from the cartoons on Noggin and was thrilled that we found these books to read to him. He often selects this book (or one of the other Minarik books) from his bookcase at bedtime for my wife or I to read to him. The stories are brief but entertaining and the illustrations are rich and engaging. The books are a bit flimsy and I would prefer that they be available in a more durable format but that is a minor issue compared to the wonderful content of these books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars lovely story October 13, 2007

By H. Hawkes

Format:Paperback

My kids and I love the little bear stories. I had "Little Bear" as a child myself. I just recently learned about this book. We just love it. It is shorter then the others and the art is just a bit different, but still as charming as always.
In the story little bear draws a picture and has hen take it to grandmother bear, who send hen with a kiss for little bear. The kiss get passed along from friend to friend until hen gets it again and gives it to little bear. Very sweet.