Customer Reviews

Visitor for Bear

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cute is hard. Picture book cute, that is. A lot of people might disagree with that, but I'm going to make a case here. There's a perception out there that if you slap a pair of big brown eyes and a furry tail on something, badda-bing! Instant adorable. Picture books, however, offer the greatest test any author or artist has to face. Because cute isn't just a visual state. It's reliant on a story that can be touching without becoming candy-coated and saccharine. It requires a certain level of restraint on both the author and the illustrator's part. Cute is hard to do and do well. Like I say, anyone can fake it and end up on a line of greeting cards, but very few people can make cute count for something. Bonny Becker can. With her remarkable "A Visitor for Bear," Becker teams with top notch illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton to bring us a book that actually goes on beyond "cute" into something more. This is a book that warms the cold cockles of even the grumpiest heart. People who cringe at the sight of "Bambi" and shudder at baby chicks will be instantly charmed by Becker and Denton's tale of a grump that learns that sometimes the right visitor is worth the vexation that comes with giving up your privacy.

Bear's pretty good at keeping people away. No one ever visits him, and just in case one does he has a big sign in front that reads, "NO visitors allowed". Just in case. Everything is fine and dandy until one day a mouse "small and gray and bright-eyed" knocks on the door. Bear says in no uncertain terms that he is not keen on visitors. The mouse seems to understand, but when Bear attempts to get out a bowl for himself, there sits the mouse asking for a spot of tea. After throwing out the unwanted guest Bear tries to open his bread drawer next, and there again is the mouse! To Bear's increasing frustration the mouse is absolutely everywhere, and no amount of stoppering or locking keeps him away. At last, Bear consents to having a bit of tea with the miniscule visitor and soon discovers that the mouse is attentive, easily impressed, and laughs at Bear's jokes. And when it is time for the mouse to go, Bear finds himself unceremoniously ripping down the "NO visitors allowed" sign. After all, he says, that is a sign for salesmen. Not for friends.

The book works because in the space of a mere 56 pages it establishes character and personality perfectly. In a way, this is a story of two fastidious creatures, one open to new friends and one not. It makes perfect sense to me that Bear and the mouse would get along. Just look at how they are presented. Bear lays out his single cup and single spoon with a delicacy at odds with his sheer mass. The mouse, similarly, is taken to speaking in polite, clipped tones. "Terribly sorry... Now you see me; now you don't. I am gone." I imagine him being voiced by Basil Rathbone, perhaps. And Bear would be John Houston.

My boss read through this book and sighed with relief when he got to the end. "I was worried that at some point we'd see a large group of mice." It actually never occurred to me that the mouse might be pulling off his appearances by being of a number greater than one. And though that would have been a nice enough idea, it's been done before (with frogs, apparently). Also, had the Bear discovered twenty or so mice hiding within the crawl spaces, nooks, and crannies of his home, it would have taken away from his slow realization that maybe having someone over for tea isn't so bad. Bear's change of heart isn't actually all that fast for a picture book. It's only during the course of tea that he comes to see how nice it is to have someone around to laugh at your jokes and listen to your stories. I also loved that the mouse brought along his own teacup. He must have, since it seems unlikely that Bear would have had a mouse-sized cup sitting about is cupboards.

And talk about a great readaloud. As the bear gets increasingly vexed his words get more and more delicious. "Vamoose!" he says at one point. "Begone!" he cries at another. "This is impossible! Intolerable! Insufferable!" And as he says these things Bear's face turns the faintest shade of pink as blue lines almost emanate off of him. And what does Bear say when at last he has been outwitted by the mouse's persistence? "I am undone." Picture books that read aloud well are not as common as you might think. The advantage to Becker's story is that her characters are so distinct. The mouse's mode of speaking is definitely different from Bear's, allowing the reader to give them wonderful voices of their own. As for the illustrator's pictures, Kady MacDonald Denton's images telegraph well across a crowded room. The size of the book is ideal for large groups of children and though the colors are soft and natural, that is not to say that they don't pop off of the page with aplomb.

I guess I'd never seen a book illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton before. I say this because I think I would remember her style. Denton is like the Bob Fosse of children's illustration. Characters' movements often come down to the most delicate turns of their wrists, or the way their feet stick up in just the right way. The mouse is an adorable and delicate fellow. He is indeed small and gray and bright-eyed but it's really his single-minded attentiveness that makes him such a sterling companion. Bear, on the other hand, really does feel as if he has weight and bulk. His belly sags believably and Denton has been very careful to make his weight fall in such a way that he never looks unbalanced (unless, of course, he is flinging himself to the floor on purpose). The delicate illustrations are done entirely in watercolor, ink, and gouache, which is rather nice. I was particularly taken with the choice of season. This is a distinctly autumnal book. The trees in the background are changing and there's always a spare leaf floating to the ground in one scene or another. It is clear that Denton thought through Becker's story since why else would Bear create a roaring crackling fire in the fireplace unless it was a slightly chilly day outside? And the occasional illustrated word really made the book pop. At the height of his frustration Bear roars a massive "Begone!" that unlike every other word in the book is actually illustrated. It only happens once, but I like seeing an illustrator know how to ratchet up a story's build-up and suspense through carefully chosen moments.

On the bookflap of this book Ms. Becker says of herself, "I hesitate to admit how much Bear is in me, but I'm grateful for every lovely mouse in my life." Everyone has a little bit of Bear in them, I think. We've all had those days when we just want to sit and stew in our own solitary juices. When the thought of sharing our space with another human being sounds like way too much work. "A Visitor for Bear" is as much a fabulous picture book as it is a cautionary tale. Sometimes it takes a mouse to get us moving. Consider "A Visitor for Bear" a book with classic-appeal.

I bought this book for my children - a 2 yr old girl and an almost 5 year old boy - and they BOTH love it.

Frankly, I love reading it. Even my husband enjoyed listening in to tonight's reading.

The illustrations and the writing work really well together.

The humour is obvious enough for the little ones with a little extra that makes it enjoyable for adults too.

The vocabulary choices make it more interesting than many children's books. Accessible, but enough of a stretch that some new words are introduced. (like "whisked" (which my son loves)and "insufferable")

It's just adorable and genuine. And I don't mind that it's become the new favorite (which means I can expect to be reading it every night for the next few weeks!)

I'm a parent and a longtime writer and editor who loves children's books -- even now that my own children are grown. So, the reason to buy this delightful new book is that it's quite simply a fun tale of two characters who spring to life so vividly that you'll want to enjoy this little slapstick adventure with Mouse and Bear over and over again.

But I want to point out that there's a spiritual insight here. And I'm not calling it a "lesson," because that kind of "conclusion" would kill the light-as-a-feather fun in this book.

But the insight about hospitality dawns toward the end of the book when the Bear suddenly discovers the reason that he shouldn't be so quick to try to kick out his plucky little visitor. It comes at the point when the weary Bear decides he must put up with his little guest -- then a realization hits him: This mouse actually wants to appreciate him and his home.

The story says: "The mouse looked most attentive. No one had ever been most attentive to bear."

It's the hinge of the story -- dropped so softly into the narrative that everything turns quite naturally.

But the truth is -- a whole lot of people are talking, these days, about the need to reclaim the timeless spiritual truths of hospitality in a post 9/11 world. There are some very serious books for adults about "the sacred art" of hospitality.

So, how do we explore those values as parents? Well, we tell stories. We read books. We weave a lively tapestry of tales.

One excellent choice? Read someone you love, "A Visitor for Bear."

I have three kids, as many kids' bookshelves, and about a billion kids' books have passed through our house. There are many I love, but this book grabbed me in a way few have. I bought it on the spot, for no reason, and have spent many afternoons reading it to my kids (even the ones who might think they are "too old" for it seem to slowly get pulled in each time.)

There was a staff review card attached to the shelf under this book, and I remember seeing the words "instant classic" written. No words could better describe this book, and I am waiting anxiously to see if more Bear and Mouse books are published.

"A Visitor for Bear" is a perfect story for preschoolers and anyone else for that matter. It tells the story of Bear, a rather reclusive character who prefers to live alone, undisturbed and even posts a sign on his front door "No Visitors Allowed". Things change when bear gets a visit -from a persistent, cute little mouse who just won't take NO for an answer and keeps popping up in the unlikeliest of places, much to the disgruntled Bear's annoyance. What happens eventually is the sweetest thing - friendship.

The book deftly handles the themes of loneliness and friendship, and the sentences are simply written - perfect for preschoolers. The illustrations are in watercolor and very beautiful with touches of humor, depicting the extremely annoyed Bear and the ever persistent Mouse to such an effect that one can't help but laugh out loud at their antics. Highly recommended and perfect for reading aloud.

What a wonderful, marvelous book! I heard it read on the Radio and had to buy it for a little friend named Nicolas. He was not yet 3 y/o but sat intently and listened and mimicked the repetitive phases in the book. It is worth the read for all aged-children with lovely illustrations. There are many lessons-learned throughout this short book. Enjoy! Sherri Anderson, Bonita, CA

A Visitor for Bear is the delightful and satisfying story of two fully realized characters and how they become friends. It is not only abundant with humor, but also explores the complexity of feelings that come with making friends and the risk one takes to do so. My 5-year-old daughter asks for this book frequently, and it is such a good out-loud read that I've caught my teenage sons enjoying it from the hallway outside her bedroom. It is truly a family favorite, even for this family who reads dozens of new books every month, and is destined to become a classic.

I accidently found this book on a library shelf, and decided to read it to my elemtary music classes. It is a true gem! As I started reading it for the very first class, my principal popped in - as principals do. She sat down and listened to the whole book, obviously enjoying every bit of it.

She took special note to find out about it, and told me how much she enjoyed it - and saw that my kids loved it, too! Even the unruly ones were totally wrapped up in the story. Great book, great lesson! I intend to buy my own copy.

This is an adorable book that my son loves and I'm sure we will love for many years. At a young age, readers can find the mouse and admire the artwork. As a child is older, this story is a wonderful example of sweetly polite dialogue. Then, later, a lesson is learned - friends are necessary and to be cherished.

A Visitor for Bear is a children's picturebook about the genesis of a most unlikely friendship. Bear is very grumpy and prefers his privacy; his "No Visitors Allowed" sign makes that clear. But then a little grey mouse comes to call - and won't take no for an answer! No matter how much Bear forbids it, the little grey mouse keeps turning up. At last Bear capitulates and agrees to spend some time with the mouse in exchange for the mouse's agreement to leave afterwards. It turns out that sharing jokes and tea with a new friend can be fun after all! A gentle story about the pleasure of meeting and becoming friendly with new people.