Moonbear's Pet (Moonbear Books) [Hardcover]

Frank Asch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1997 | Series: Moonbear Books

Bear and Little Bird's friendship undergoes a test when they disagree about why their new pet fish, Splash, is growing wings, but the two pals are soon reunited when they discover the truth about Splash's metamorphosis."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bear and Little Bird adopt a fish in this warmhearted series installment. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1. Lovable Moonbear returns in another entertaining story with a gentle lesson. The young bear finds a little fish in a pond and adopts her as a new pet. He and Little Bird nurture their foundling, naming her Splash, taking her on outings, and showering her with gifts. One day, they notice their "fish" is growing appendages. Little Bird is sure they are wings. Moonbear is equally sure that they are legs and paws. After a heated debate, the two decide to return Splash to the pond, ignoring her and one another for a month. At that time, they discover that Splash is a frog and also learn the value of friendship. Many children will realize Splash's true identity long before the friends' enlightenment. Moonbear's many fans will welcome his newest escapade. The same sense of innocence, playfulness, and affection that made the earlier titles popular is evident here, and the brightly colored graphic illustrations will be a sure hit. Visual jokes appear in a number of the pictures, adding to observant readers' enjoyment.?Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689807945
• ISBN-13: 978-0689807947
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,450,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I thought this book was really good., October 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Moonbear's Pet (Moonbear Books) (Hardcover)

I liked moonbears pet because it is about a friendship that is ruined and then restored at the end.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cute, Thought Provoking Story - a review of "Moonbear's Pet", November 2, 2007

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Moonbear's Pet (Moonbear Books) (Paperback)

Frank Asch has been on my children's summer reading lists for three consecutive years and for good reasons. He can tell a good story, he creates likable characters, and he manages to teach lessons without being obvious about it.

In this book, Asch gives us a bit of science along with a tale about friendship. The story begins when Bear and Bird find a little aquatic creature that they think is a fish. The pair name the critter 'Splash' and decide to make it a pet. Things go along well until they discover that Splash "the fish" is growing legs.

Well, this development really throws them for a loop, and the two friends begin to conjecture about what Splash will grow up to be. Somewhat surprisingly (at least for me) they each decide that Splash is going to grow up to be like them. Perhaps it's just wishful thinking, or perhaps it's just that they like what they are, but these assumptions set the two friends to arguing as they take umbrage at the suggestion that it might be better to be a bird than a bear, and vice-versa. Little Bird exclaims that it would silly to want to be a clumsy bear; while Moonbear suggests that it would be equally silly to want to be a puny little 'sack of feathers' when one could be much stronger.

As with all Asch stories, everything works out in the end. And children will learn something about the nature of friendship, and something about science as they see the tadpole grow into a frog.

Five Stars ::: [A-] Good Story. Good Read-aloud. There are two lessons to be learned from this book. The first is about the development of frogs from tadpoles. And the second is that our differences don't have to keep us from being friends. The 'official' AR (Accelerated Reading) Level for Moonbear's Pet is 2.5, or to put it another way, this is a book 'meant' for a mid-year second grader.

Note: The AR designation is a general "guide" that rates books on a relative scale of difficulty. Children can certainly read at levels above or below their group range, so that this number should only be used as a aid to help choose books that are appropriate and not frustrating.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksforKids-reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars moonbears pet, September 16, 2002

By 

Ms. Deborah L. Allen (jax, fla usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moonbear's Pet (Moonbear Books) (Paperback)

quite happy with the purchase. Seller has good communication and speedy shipping. the book is wonderful.