Review by Booklist Review
When Bear's stomach begins rumbling, he starts filching food wherever he can find it. Honey still in the hive, a fish off a fisherman's hook, treats from campers' coolers it's all fair game. Or is it? As Bear collects his victuals, a full moon rises, bathing him in a pure and increasingly paranoid light. Stop following me, Moon! shouts Bear, and soon he's on the run, dodging behind trees, deflecting attention to Bigfoot, stealing a truck all in an attempt to evade the moon's unflagging gaze. Is it after Bear's food? Does it know Bear's a thief? When Bear finally gets his wish, the jewel-toned night turns pitch black, leaving him to nervously reconsider his ill-gotten gains and the moon's friendly glow. Stylized illustrations offer amusing details of their own Bear is clearly not the only animal with sticky paws and the minimal text helps keep readers' focus on the story's action. Farrell (Thank You, Octopus, 2014) builds the situational comedy well, ensuring laughs at Bear's over-the-top responses to the moon.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Readers who enjoyed the gentle absurdity of Farrell's Thank You, Octopus should be equally charmed by this story of a bear who believes that the moon is after his stash of snacks. Early scenes find the bear snagging everything edible in sight. "Ohh la-la!" he remarks as he grabs a berry bush away from a squirrel, going on to steal a beehive, a fish off an angler's line, and marshmallows (they appear to be Stay Puft) from a camping cooler. Delight turns to fear as the bear realizes that he can't shake the creamy full moon hanging in the sky. The story's trajectory recalls that of Mac Barnett's and Patrick McDonnell's The Skunk, right down to the silent pursuer, noir-ish mood ("Who sent you, Moon? Was it Turtle?" the bear shouts while tearing across a meadow), and turnabout ending that has the bear missing the moon after it ducks behind a cloud. Full of quirky details that reward close study, Farrell's story has personality to spare, culminating in a midnight dance party-his break-dancing foxes are particularly delightful. Ages 3-5. Agent: Heather Alexander, Pippin Properties. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A hungry bear wanders through the forest collecting food for a feast with no regard for who it may belong to or who may have been eating it. With arms full of ill-gotten goods, he notices the moon following him. Bear tries to make his escape all the while protesting his innocence and demanding the moon stop following him. His escape involves all manner of stolen conveyances-bicycle, motor boat, hand glider, forest ranger truck, and a failed attempt at misdirection (look, Bigfoot!). He succeeds all too well when the moon is obscured by a cloud, and Bear is suddenly in the dark-a place he doesn't like at all. He begs for the moon to return and promises to be nice. Bathed again in moonlight, Bear makes good on his promise. He shares his hoarded food in an impromptu moonlit feast with all those from whom it was purloined. Farrell's illustrations, pencil with digital finger painting, are integral to the text and feature circle-eyed woodland creatures, humans, and, of course, the moon. The great expressions and action sequences are perfect. And while Bear is the star of the show, eagle-eyed readers will see some hilarious background scenes of thieving foxes and beavers, not to mention a Bigfoot cameo or two. VERDICT An amusing read about taking and giving back that is sure to give kids the giggles and have them taking a second look at the moon.-Catherine Callegari, formerly at Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH c Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
After hungry Bear divests a fisherman of his catch, some campers of their grub, etc., he thinks Moon is watching him. Even young readers will get that the interpreted tenacity of Moon's gaze reflects the thief's guilt. The subdued digital art in this clever look at the perils of deceitfulness features forest critters whose expressions speak louder than words. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
