Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Hare loudly makes his displeasure and boredom known to his large friend Bear with fits of temper and repeated complaints (framed in rhyming verse) during a rainy summer afternoon. He's trapped inside with a leaking roof, he can't enjoy "games and picnics in the sun," and, worst of all, the carrots are moldy. "There, there," commiserates busy Bear. He makes every attempt to calm his friend with a chess match, muffins, and tea, but when all else fails, Bear finally loses patience and drags his friend outside to prove a point: it's far better to count blessings than complain, for "if you think your life is grim, just be glad that you're not [a worm]." In this cautionary tale for young whiners in training, cartoonish acrylic illustrations use varied perspectives to depict the details of the pair's warm, cozy den; an unrelenting pelting rain across thickly textured backgrounds; and a range of emotions for both Bear and Hare. Expressions of kindly concern, anger, pain, and frustration pass across faces as Hare vents without stop and Bear repeatedly tries to console him. VERDICT A possible addition to social emotional learning collections, this selection effortlessly delivers a view of acceptable and unacceptable behavior; a humorous option for most libraries.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX © Copyright 2017. 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
Rained in, Rabbit keeps whining about everything. Bear eventually gets fed up and drags him outside: "See this earthworm, little buddy? / If you think your life is grim, / Just be glad that you're not him." (The worm is understandably insulted.) The rhyming story and its chunky acrylic art contain some humor, but the messages on empathy and gratitude are muddled. (c) Copyright 2018. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A long, hard rainstorm traps two anthropomorphic forest friends inside their den, testing their friendship. A hare and a bear, longtime pals, are waiting out a summer rainstorm. Before long, the hare is getting a little squirrely; his face takes on a strained expression. Busy cooking, the bear expresses his sympathy repeatedly, always ending with a "There, there." In a rage, the hare kicks a chair, stubs his toe, and weeps uncontrollably. The bear begins to lose his patience. When the hare complains about the moldy carrots, the bear declares that he's "had it up to HERE!" He grabs the hare and drags him out into the rain. Getting down on all fours in the mud, he picks up an earthworm. "If you think your life is grim, / Just be glad that you're not him," the bear announces. "When he meets his own rear end, / He mistakes it for a friend!" The hare sits quietly and stares at the poor blind wrinkled little creature, and he thinks, "Things aren't so bad." He apologizes, and the bear takes his hand and walks him back home. And, miraculously, the rain has stopped. Everyone is happyexcept the insulted earthworm! Beiser's verse is substantial if a bit shaggy, and his story is a nice reminder to short-tempered children. Slavin's bright illustrations nicely capture the expressive emotions of the two critter cronies. Funny and spirited. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
