Review by Booklist Review
When spring comes and Bear wakes up from hibernation, he has got only one thing on his mind: breakfast! He has a serious craving for something, but he can't remember what it's called, just that it starts with a B. Surely not a bunny, Bunny says when he hears this. I am too skinny to taste good. Bumblebee, Boa, Bat, and Bluebird are all eager to convince Bear that they aren't the breakfast he is looking for either, and the group heads off to find an alternative. When they come across a brown-skinned boy (collecting berries), it just might jog Bear's memory. The repeating B sounds make this ideal for a read-aloud, and the acrylic-and-oil illustrations effectively capture the hazy feel of early spring. Young readers will enjoy spotting the members of Bear's search party as the group grows bigger, and will be delighted by the animals' expressive faces. Bear himself, hungry and forgetful, is particularly endearing if occasionally alarming on his quest for breakfast. Move over, Winnie-the-Pooh; there's a hungrier bear in town.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Alliteration is key in this bright and blissful book. Readers are introduced to an adorable bear cub who is on a quest for a good breakfast that starts with the letter B. Bear leads one friend after the other on a journey through several different B options, including a bunny, a boa, and a bee. Unfortunately, none of these B creatures are right for breakfast, until Bear notices a boy near some berries. This simple, gentle story will benefit emerging readers, encouraging them with plenty of white space and expressive text to decode through Bear's journey. Children will especially delight in Bear's animated expressions, provided by Helquist, who does an excellent job of illustrating Bear's world through his warm and vivid paintings. VERDICT A fine addition to most collections.-Maria Alegre, The Dalton School, New York 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 Kirkus Book Review
After waking up from hibernation, Bear is starved. Breakfast is in order, but the perplexed ursine cannot put a paw on exactly what it should be; it starts with the letter B. It can't be friend Bunny, who informs Bear, "I am too skinny to taste good" but will help with the search. The pair set off and meet up with Bumblebee. Before Bear can get any ideas, Bumblebee stings it on the nose, and Bear quickly decides to keep looking, now with the insect's help as well. Now there are three on the breakfast search. Bit by bit the search party grows as they encounter Boa (who offers some bark), a bat (who is too bony for bears), and Bluebird (who needs to take care of her beautiful babies). Eventually, in a nail-biting sequence over three double-page spreads, they spot a brown-skinned child. Could it possibly be that this is the "B!" Bear is looking for? Children are clearly meant to see a boy here and supply the story's punch line, but the word "Boy" is never printed on the page. Readers will be relieved to find it's the "Berries!!!" the child has been gathering. The story ends with everyone, child included, taking a nap after a bountiful breakfast of berries. Helquist's charming acrylic-and-oil illustrations are very expressive, anthropomorphizing the animals just enough to engage but making sure Bear's canines are evident at all times. The spread in which the animals wonder anxiously if they have finally found Bear's "B!" is priceless. Welcome to the spring bookshelf, Bear. So glad you like berries! (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
