Customer Reviews

A Splendid Friend, Indeed (Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book (Awards))

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Finding a book as perfect in its simplicity as, "A Splendid Friend, Indeed" is near-impossible. I should know. As a children's librarian I often have to contest with countless anxious parents who want a picture book for their kids to read, with simple words, and a simple plot. But it has to be interesting too. And beautiful to look at. And touching, they definitely want something touching. All told there are perhaps four or five books in the English language that fit such strict criteria and remain readable. Now Suzanne Bloom's book may join their ranks. Though passed over for a Caldecott (a fact that had my fellow children's librarians wrenching out their hair in clumps) the book did garner a prestigious Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book Award. Just the same, I am of the opinion that "A Splendid Friend, Indeed" deserves a lot more press and fanfare. So here I am, blaring out the news for all to hear: COME ONE, COME ALL, TO WITNESS A PIECE OF PICTURE BOOK PERFECTION! I can't say it any plainer than that.

A polar bear is reading a book when a white duck travels down his back for a chat. The duck is deeply inquisitive. He'd love to know exactly what the polar bear is up to. The dialogue is something along the lines of, "What are you doing? Are you reading? I like to read. Do you want to hear me read?". The bear grows increasingly frustrated with the encounter and annoyed with this relentlessly cheery pest. After a bit the duck comes back with a snack he has made and a note he has written. The note reads, "I like you. Indeed I do. You are my splendid friend". The polar bear is deeply touched by the note and by the end the two are hugging alongside the words, "You are my splendid friend. My splendid friend, indeed". Then they settle down to tea and cookies.

The story is, on one level, a kind of take on sibling rivalry. Older siblings with overly enthusiastic young `uns tagging along will identify with the polar bear's longing to just be left alone by his number one fan. On another level, however, this is about dealing with someone who likes you almost too much. It's about handling people who let their emotions fly free of any and all inhibitions. At no point does the duck ever catch the polar bear's book-over-the-ears-type hints. Good thing too. When the bear stops to listen to the duck's letter he is strangely touched. What is so very remarkable about the book is for all its cuteness (and it is really very adorable) the book is not treacly or saccharine. This isn't "cute" in the way a Precious Moments figurine is cute. It's cute because it strikes a real emotional cord AND happens to be lovely to look at and read at the same time.

The art is actually a draw in and of itself. The first image we have of the duck is of him walking down a white, furry hill of sorts. It is, of course, the polar bear's back and does nothing to improve his mood right off the bat. All the illustrations in this book have been done in pastels and Bloom wields her colors with a highly skilled hand. The fur of the polar doesn't just look like something you could stick your hand into and feel, it also contains specks of greens and blues and purples. There's a great deal of subtlety to the book's seemingly simple images. Against the blue background the polar bear and duck are carefully outlined in colors that separate them from the deepening sky. Read the book three or four times and you begin to notice tiny details. For example, when the polar bear melts and hugs the duck at the end, the background changes from blue to a subtle reddish-purple. Without becoming cartoonish, the book is consistently interesting to the very very young and those old wise people helping them to read. Tis a visual feast.

In many ways, "A Splendid Friend, Indeed" conjures up that old classic Mirra Ginsburg book, "The Chick and the Duckling". There are also similarities to "Ginger" by Charlotte Voake. But while these two books are sweet enough in their own way, Bloom's story packs a particularly strong emotional punch. If you've an early reader or a child who's ready for the most basic of tales, consider this a must-have purchase for their personal library. A sure-fire knock-out book.

Suzanne Bloom delineates the contrasting personalities of her animal protagonists from the very first 2-page spread. There's a furry polar bear, comfortably stretched out on his belly, his eyes glued to his open book. And there's Goose, standing on Bear's head, his long neck curved upside down, and his eyes so close to Bear that he's truly in his face. He (or she, we really don't know) immediately asked the much larger animal, "What are you doing? Are you reading?" Goose sits in front of Bear's book, proclaiming, "I like to read," followed by more rapid-fire questions and announcements, as Goose seems oblivious to Bear's scowls, frustration, and annoyance.

Goose combines the high activity and social graces of Daffy Duck, but with a much sweeter, more innocent quality. The big-webbed bird seems like a member of Free Associators' Anonymous as he leans into Bear-who is rolling his eyes--and asks, all innocent curiosity, "What are you doing now? Thinking? Thinking makes me hungry. Are you hungry? I think I'll go make a snack." Goose not only makes a snack, but also returns with a note he wrote for Bear (who is now hunched over in retreat, covering his eyes with his composition book):

I like you.
Indeed I do.
You are my splendid friend.

Bear returns the sentiment, and gives Goose a big ole' bear hug, and these two disparate personalities come together at last. Bloom's vivid yet soothing pastels reinforce Goose's soft-edged personality, and she conveys the two animals' moods with body language and the slightest shift in their eyes. Bloom deftly places two recognizable toddler temperaments in her two animals, and her very amusing narrative and pleasing pictures make this an extremely enjoyable tale.

The big, quiet bear isn't too sure about this wacky, quacky duck. Bear just wants to read and write and think while Duck wants to talk about reading and writing and thinking. Duck shows Bear how differences don't have to get in the way of a splendid friendship. Bright blocks of colors and short, simple sentences make this book a good addition to the read-aloud list. 2006 Geisel Honor Book

This is a friendly and kind book indeed. It was about a friendly goose nice, energized and inquisitive, and a polar bear, irritable and grouchy. Interestingly enough, the goose is making the polar bear annoyed and grumpy like a lion, because the goose is asking too many questions while bear is reading, writing, and thinking. Goose goes to get a snack and writes a friendship letter. He comes back with the letter and reads it to bear who is overjoyed because the letter is so loving. In the end, they shared feelings and were happy. I would rate this book a five star book because you can really learn how to be a good
friend!!!!

Reviewed by: Amanda

This is a very touching and simple tale about friendship and sharing, friendly and annoying behavior, and patience.

A polar bear reads a book when a white Goose walks down his white furry back for a chat. The Goose is very talkative and interested in everything the Bear does - like reading, writing, thinking. The bear seems to be annoyed and bothered by this little silly Goose that is so intrusive of his quiet activities:

"What are you doing now? Thinking?/ Thinking makes me hungry. Are you hungry? I think I'll go make a snack."/

The Goose comes back with a snack and tells the bear that he wrote him a note:
I like you.
Indeed I do.
You are my splendid friend.

After such a sincere note the Bear opens up to the Goose and gives him a true bear hug of friendship and finally speaks up:
"Thank you. I like you, too. Indeed, I do."

This book is simply outstanding for its illustrations as well. The artwork is drawn by hand in calming pastels on the blue background that shifts from dark to light. The Bear's fur stands out the most from each spread of the book - it seems to be done with chalk strokes and is full of shadows, contours and undertones. To further enhance the meaning of the story, the complexity of emotions is shown in the illustrations through the animals' eyes and body language.

"A Splendid Friend, Indeed" is full of gentle humor. Simple words and large text are accessible to beginning readers.


Julia Shpak
Author of "Power of Plentiful Wisdom". Available on Amazon.
For more reviews on children's books visit my blog "Julia's Library" at: ForwardQuoteDOTcom

The cover illustration right away drew me in. This is a very sweet little board book and very worthy of the Seuss honor. The illustrations appear to be chalk, which is not a very common medium in children's illustration, with all the clicks of a computer available to us these days. The illustrations are very textured and vivid and invite close scrutiny as the characters come alive.

Having several younger siblings I have lived the story in the book countless times. The Bear is in the midst of some quiet Bear time, reading etc. And the Goose is ready to chat, ready to spend some time with someone else, not really paying attention to how the Bear is trying to brush him off. However, even the Bear can't brush off the very sweet note the Goose gives him.

Its a lovely story about friendship, its worth buying for the illustrations alone however.

Lots of lively discussion resulted after reading this sweet story to a group of kindergartners. The illustrations are bright, simple and reveal most of the story's plot and emotions. Students were able to read this book along with me after just one read. Teachers and parents will enjoy the reaction to this book when sharing it with youngsters.

I can't figure out what is so special about this book. I found it very simple and my 2.5 year old is not particularly engaged by it. I was hoping to find a book about friends for my daugher. For a book on friendship, we like "Little Blue Truck" much better.

A timeless book about friendship between two people, even two adults! Pictures and spare text are expressive and priceless. Even the opening picture (my interpretation: duck is being exceptionally considerate by gingerly tiptoeing down bear's back) is ingenious. And when bear finally speaks, you know it because you can see the pink insides of his mouth for the first time! Possibly unintended, but the brilliant ending can be considered open-ended. Here's two scenarios that older children might propose: 1) bear realizes he's stuck with duck as a friend forever and regrets accepting duck's overtures and 2) bear realizes duck would be better as a meal and a really last picture would show bear picking pieces of feather and bone out of his teeth!

A Splendid Friend Indeed was a surprising book about a selfish, ignorant bear and a duck. Later, they became great friends. At the beginning, the duck was annoying to the bear, even though the duck was actually trying to be friendly. At the end of the story the bear, a grumpy old lion, figured out what the friendly duck was trying to do. The book also had happy parts. The bear was extremely happy at the end because duck said, "You are my splendid friend indeed." The illustrations, colorful and bright, struck my imagination. They helped me to see the story, like when the bear felt happy. The illustrations helped me see how happy he was. I rate this book 5 stars for 3-6 year olds and 3 stars for 6 years and up, not including boys. The book was splendid for me. Kids 6 and up would not like the book because it was too short for them, but I loved it, because it had few words that meant a lot.