Little Bear's Little Boat [Hardcover]

Eve Bunting (Author), Nancy Carpenter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 2003 | Age Level: 2 and up

Little Bear loves his little boat. He rows it around Huckleberry Lake, fishing and dreaming. But then Little Bear begins to grow and grow, until one day he doesn’t fit in his little boat anymore! All children who experience growing pains will appreciate Little Bear’s predicament. And they will smile with satisfaction as the solution to his problem unfolds in simple, lyrical words and charming pictures from two award-winning picture-book creators.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Little Bear thoroughly enjoys his cherished boat, until he outgrows it. While Mother Bear explains that it's a little bear's destiny to grow, he knows, "It's a little boat's destiny to keep sailing on a blue, blue lake," so he sets off to find another little cub to enjoy it. When he finds one, he hands over his treasured object and asks its new owner to pass it on when he becomes too big for it. Children will listen intently to this tale. The softly colored, uncluttered illustrations, created with pen and ink and digital media, have anold-fashioned charm. Written with the simple finesse characteristic of Bunting, this amiable, gently didactic tale will resonate with many children.
Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

PreS. Little Bear loves rowing, fishing, and floating in his little rowboat. Then he begins to grow, and one day his new heft sinks the boat. His mother calms him: "It is a little bear's destiny to grow and grow till he is a BIG BEAR. It is a little boat's destiny to stay the same size." Bear is sad, and he worries that no one will love his boat now that he can no longer fit into it. All ends happily, though, when Bear decides to bequeath the boat to another Little Bear, repeating his mother's warning: little bears become big bears, and the boat must eventually be passed on. Surprisingly few stories touch on the nostalgia and fear a new stage of childhood can bring. With just a few sentences per page, this is a sensitive, affecting story about growing up and leaving favorite things behind, with charming ink-and-paint illustrations that echo the spare clarity of the words. Reassuring and well told. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (May 19, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395974623
• ISBN-13: 978-0395974629
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eve Bunting has written more than 200 books for children, many of which can be found in libraries around the world. Her other Clarion titles for very young readers include My Big Boy Bed, which was also illustrated by Maggie Smith, and Little Bear's Little Boat, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely beautiful, December 21, 2008

By 

Marion "loves2read-mom" (McLean, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Bear's Little Boat (Hardcover)

This is a well-written, beautifully illustrated, simple story of a little bear who grows up to be a big bear. While it makes a perfect "big sibling" gift, I highly recommend this book for any young child. In fact, our whole family congregates when one of us reads it to our 4-year old. An absolute winner.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful story - don't miss it!, May 4, 2008

By 

Canyon Mom (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Little Bear's Little Boat (Hardcover)

This is a sweet and touching story about growing up. It was recommended by a local childrens bookstore and quickly became one of my children's favorite stories. We have given many copies as gifts and donated them to school libraries. Everyone falls in love with book - it is true quality. 'Little Bears Little Boat' is a timeless story and an essential addition to any child's library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars love it!, June 30, 2006

By 

supers1 (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Little Bear's Little Boat (Hardcover)

My 3 year old daughter fell in love with this book. The illustrations are so sweet and the story is cute. Good lesson for young children who are about to get a new sibling--when you outgrow certain things, it's time to give them to someone smaller.