Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this follow-up to The Welcome Wagon, the title refers to a big community festival held in Doerrfeld's animal-populated Cubby Hill. There are games, food, and activities, and, best of all, "everyone brought some way to give back." Cooper the bear attends with his grandmother to distribute their beehives' final takings; he wears a cape and declares himself "the Greatest Honey Hero in the Universe!" But he also spreads himself a little too thin, volunteering to help rabbit neighbors who need a "bunnysitter," among other deeds. The jars of honey invariably take a hit, but Cooper's pals are quick to advocate for him with his grandmother, who pronounces him "the greatest gift giver in the universe." Doerrfeld deftly choreographs busy animals bustling about the fairgrounds, energized by the prospect of doing good in the company of family and friends. Ages 3--7. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--This gentle tale focuses on traditional Thanksgiving themes: community, friendship, and helping others. Doerrfeld (The Welcome Wagon) brings readers back to the town of Cubby Hill, where different kinds of animals live together peacefully. The story begins at the Giving Festival, a community event where animals arrive bearing food, games, and musical instruments. Cooper, a bear cub, is there with his grandmother, and they have brought honey jars to give to others. Cooper is giving out the jars by himself for the first time, and his grandmother reminds him to be careful since these are the last jars of honey for the season. As he sets out to deliver the honey at the fair, Coopers gets sidetracked by animals who need help with various things, and some jars get broken. At the end, Cooper thinks he is in trouble; instead, the other animals gather around him to express their gratitude, his grandmother beams with pride, and the others assist him with the rest of his deliveries. The digital illustrations are childlike and somewhat plain, though creatures of all kinds are shown smiling and interacting helpfully with each other. VERDICT While this is not an essential purchase, it has a positive theme of helping others that makes it a pleasant addition for collections expanding their Thanksgiving fare.--Melanie Kletter, School Library Journal
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Jars of honey make fine presents for friends, but while on his rounds, Cooper the bear delivers an even sweeter gift. Having brought out a Welcome Wagon (2020) for an opener, the tightly knit community of Cubby Hill is coming together for its Great Giving Festival. "Bee careful!" Grammy Bea warns little Cooper, sending him out with some of the last of the summer's golden harvest. As everyone is busy setting up on the fairgrounds, Cooper offers to lend a paw at each stop--watching the baby Bouncey bunnies, debugging the VR flight simulator for his friend Stella, and hefting paint-a-pumpkins with another friend, Henry. Unfortunately, at each stop a honey jar somehow ends up spilled or broken ("Oh my gourd! I'm sorry!"), with the inevitable result that Cooper trails sadly back to Grammy's booth certain that she'll never trust him again. Imagine his surprise when a crowd rushes up to thank him warmly for his assistance…including Grammy, who makes the lesson explicit: "I want to thank you too," she says. "For always helping anyone and everyone who needs it." In populous illustrations that reflect the narrative's playful tone, Cooper, styling himself "Super Cooper," is easy to pick out in his cape and outsized eyeglasses amid a bustling, multispecies cast of cute, smiling, bigheaded animals in human dress. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 75% of actual size.) Worthy values delivered with a wink...not to mention a generous dollop of sticky sweetness. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
