The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear (Child's Play Library) [Paperback]

Don Wood (Author, Illustrator), Audrey Wood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1996 | Age Range: 5 and up | Series: Child's Play Library

First published in 1984, a picture book in which the Little Mouse will do all he can to save his strawberry from the Big, Hungry Bear, even if it means sharing it with the reader. The Little Mouse and the Big Hungry Bear are known and loved by millions of children around the world. Little Mouse loves strawberries, but so does the bear...How will Little Mouse stop the bear from eating his freshly picked, red, ripe strawberry.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The soft and hard cover versions, published in 1984, have been extensively reviewed, and have sold over 1,000,000 copies. --From the publisher --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Audrey Wood started her career with Child's Play, and is now one of this country's best-known authors for children. Often, she works with her husband, Don, as the illustrator, and their recent books are published by Simon & Schuster and HBJ. Audrey and Don live with their son Bruce in Santa Barbara, CA. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Masters Press; New Ed edition (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0859533301
• ISBN-13: 978-0859533300
• Product Dimensions: 15.6 x 0.2 x 17.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (240 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #410,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hello Little Mouse. What Are You Doing? February 15, 2002

By Roz Levine

Format:Hardcover

What's a little, strawberry loving mouse going to do to keep a big, hungry, strawberry loving bear from eating his fruit? Especially when "the big, hungry Bear can smell a red, ripe strawberry a mile away..." Well, with a little clever help from the reader, this turns out to be an easy problem to solve..... Don and Audrey Wood have authored an entertaining, interactive treasure that's sure to charm and delight kids from 1 to 91. Their simple text is joyous and engaging, But this is really a story told through the marvelous illustrations. Mr Wood's bold, bright, and amusing artwork stars a most endearing little furry friend, and youngsters will love all the captivating facial expressions and wonderful, humorous detail in each two page spread. The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, And The Big Hungry Bear is a masterpiece little ones will beg to read again and again, and a timeless classic to share with friends, family, and future generations.

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, & Big Hungry Bear January 27, 2000

By Kristin Gillespie

Format:Hardcover

A wonderful book truly suitable for children from birth up (and for all of us big kids!). The sense of suspense created by the anticipation of the Big Hungry Bear's arrival is offset by the humorous facial expressions of this cute Little Mouse. A wonderful book which encourages a most important social value - sharing. It has large bright illustrations with minimal text on each page, so it is both highly attractive to babies and toddlers, and ideal as an early reader. Long words such as "disguised" are used to help expand vocab but are so cleverly illustrated that the meaning of the word is easily apparent even to toddlers (I won't spoil it by telling you how - but this is a MUST see!). The book also cleverly introduces basic math concepts such as one being cut in two, then sharing half. Again beautiful illustrations make this concept very clear. I have a three year old, and I also work with children from about 6 weeks old up to high school age. It is rare not to get a very positive response, even from those who are supposedly outside the book's age range. Seeing half a dozen tiny babies, or a group of busy toddlers, totally enthralled for a few minutes is wonderful. My son and I both love this book. If you like to dramatise (eg. different voices, noises, movements to the story) then this book will give you lots of scope. If you're a bit hesitant about trying dramtisation (or feel a little silly) go ahead and try it - you and your child(ren) will enjoy the book that much more. This wife and husband team are unbeatable, keep an eye out for other titles from them, especially Quick as a Cricket.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern classic July 20, 2000

By Robert James

Format:Paperback

My 3-year old daughter and I were in the local bookstore, and she came running over to me with this book in her hand. She had just been playing with a baby mouse at the petstore, and we had compromised by buying her a small stuffed mouse instead. When she found this, she was convinced this was the story of her mouse, who, like her, loves strawberries. I had to read it to her five times in a row before she'd even let me buy it; I can't even begin to count how many times I've read it to her in the week since. She just loves the mouse, the expressions on his face, and the joy of eating her favorite fruit right after! This is a great book that belongs in every child's library.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Do Not Buy the Board Book Version! August 31, 2010

By summarie

Format:Board book|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love this book in hardcover, but I was sorely disappointed with the board book version. The colors are faded and the illustrations are cropped in such a way that some of the magic of the original work is lost. I purchased this as a gift, but I'm returning it. Still a great book, but just be warned that the board book version doesn't do it justice.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable, Colorful, and Funny. September 15, 2001

By Nobodymmmmm

Format:Board book

The Story: A mouse is in the process of picking a red ripe strawberry when you, the reader, come upon him. You warn the mouse about "The Big Hungry Bear" who loves "Red Ripe Strawberries." Though the darling little mouse looks up at you with wide, worried eyes, he really wants that strawberry and continues to pick it and drag it back to his little home, where he tries hiding it, guarding it, disguising it, etc. Finally, the reader tells the little mouse the only way he can save his strawberry from the "Big Hungry Bear" is to "Cut it in two, share half with me, and we will eat it all up."

Your little mouse will love this book, and so will you. The illustrations are absolutely fantastic, and the mouse is one of the most expressively drawn characters in children's books. It's a quick read accompanied by bright, colorful, beautifully painted pages that will keep the attention of even the youngest child, and have your older child giggling and reading along with you.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly delightful experience! April 16, 2002

By History_of_Art_Geek

Format:Board book

Cleverly conceived, the reader is the narrator in this enchanting little board book. Beautifully written, the story will engage small children while mesmerize infants with the OUTSTANDING illustrations.

The storyteller (that's you) starts out "Hello, little Mouse. What are you doing?" The reader sees an adorable, little mouse sauntering down a road carrying a ladder with a suspicious expression on his face.

The story continues, "Oh, I see. Are you going to pick that red, ripe strawberry?" The mouse is standing with his hands on hips wearing a big, proud grin. He has successfully propped the ladder up to a strawberry bush.

"But little Mouse, haven't you heard about the Big Hungry Bear?" The mouse now fruitfully up the ladder, appears extremely frightened by the readers' announcement of the Big Hungry Bear. The story continues as the narrator does his (or her) best to save the mouse, and the strawberry from the "Big Hungry Bear."

"The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, & the Big Hungry Bear", is an irresistible short story that reinforces sharing and caring, and is truly a delightful experience for children and reader a like. One-year and up.