Review by Booklist Review
When Big Bear takes Little Bear on a fishing expedition, Little Bear watches and listens, quietly learning what to do. He willingly follows his more knowledgeable companion everywhere, even into a somewhat unstable rowboat. But first, they prepare by donning fishing pants and tall black boots. Next, they put two poles into their wagon and make a batch of blueberry scones. Down at the lake, Big Bear steps into the creaky, wobbly boat, and, after gathering his courage, Little Bear leaps into Big Bear's arms. Out on the lake at last, they wait. And wait. They eat scones. And wait. A fish swims around the boat and leaves. The bears go home and, climbing into the hammock, take a nap together. Underlying every conversation between the two is a bond of mutual affection that runs deep. From the understated text to the spare but pleasant illustrations, created with expressive lines and watercolor washes, everything about this quiet, satisfying picture book fits together beautifully. A cozy story that certain children will want to hear again and again.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
As Big Bear and Little Bear stand together in their pajamas, Big Bear peers down at Little Bear. "I'm just in the mood for fishing," Big Bear says, and Little Bear agrees--"Me, too.... Just in the mood." Delicate pencil and watercolor vignettes by Caldecott Medalist Stead follow the two as they get ready, then gather needed items for the outing. Simple, reiterative phrases from Hest (Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone) convey easy familiarity and slow the pace ("Poles, says Big Bear. Fishermen need poles. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Poles") as the bears decide that they can't go fishing without scones, then pick blueberries, mix batter, and add a book to their wagon ("Now they are really, truly ready for fishing"). Though Big Bear registers visually as a caregiver, the two feel more like equals; Little Bear, for example, remembers to use a quiet voice for fishing when Big Bear forgets. Throughout an expedition in which nothing goes quite according to plan, satisfaction lies in the quality of seemingly limitless time the two bears share, a perception underscored by images that convey meditative calm. Together, the creators craft a world that never moves any faster than its characters want it to. Ages 4--8. Illustrator's agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--From the author of Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone comes a mild but reassuring tale of a fishing trip with Big Bear and Little Bear. Deliberately repetitive text follows the bears as they get ready. Little Bear often repeats what Big Bear says, and his eager anticipation for the expedition is clear. While the trip doesn't end with a fish, both bears snuggle together for a perfectly timed nap. Stead's bear drawings (Bear Has a Story to Tell) feel snugly familiar, and this book reads as the opening round for more stories about Big Bear and Little Bear. The soft watercolor paintings have a Wind in the Willows nostalgia to them, and though nothing much seems to happen, it's actually a very big day. VERDICT This may be too subdued to stand out among other picture books, but there are small lessons to be learned about companionship, appreciating each moment shared, and making the best of an experience regardless of the outcome.--Heidi Dechief
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Big Bear and Little Bear enjoy a summer idyll. It starts with a joyous declaration from Big Bear -- "I'm just in the mood for fishing" -- that just encapsulates a child's immersive enthusiasm. The two bears get dressed, find their poles, bake blueberry scones (of course; as Big Bear observes, "Fishermen need nice, warm blueberry scones"), and pack a storybook. These preparations traverse several beautifully orchestrated page-turns, each new necessity building listeners' anticipation. Big Bear's warm confidence coaxes Little Bear past some apprehension at the dock; in the boat at last, they "dip their poles" and wait, nibbling scones and reading stories until a fish finally appears, then swims away, leaving Big Bear and Little Bear to retreat contentedly to their hammock. Stead's delicate pencil and watercolor paintings depict beguiling details -- Big Bear's bunny slippers, the honeybees on the wallpaper, the echinacea in bloom -- without ever distracting from the total delight these bears have in each other. In their gently hairy bulk and the tender tilts of their heads, they recall Sendak's Little Bear and his mother. The text is equally gentle in its phrasing. Dialogue is set in italics rather than enclosed in quotation marks; pre-readers may not notice, but the unusual typographical choice will draw the attention of adults and older children to the warm, brown letters and the creamy negative space. It's hard to imagine a nicer day than this. Vicky SmithMay/June 2024 p.116 (c) Copyright 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
Quiet contentment is the name of the game in this gentle tale of fish and scones. Big Bear wants to go fishing, and so does Little Bear. They dress for the occasion, but are they ready? "Almost." They need poles ("Almost"), then snacks ("Almost"), then a big green book of stories. Ready at last, they get into their rowboat and wait, but nothing's biting. Scones are noshed. Stories are read. And at last, one big fish does swim around them for a while before leaving. Then it's time to go home and nap together on the big hammock. With prodigious skill, Hest employs the quiet repetitions that make reading a book aloud a joy. "Poles, says Big Bear. Fishermen need poles. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Poles." "Scones, says Big Bear. Fishermen need nice, warm blueberry scones. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Scones." Stead, meanwhile, makes great use of vast white spaces, filling them with bees, clouds, and two bears with great affection for one another. Their love is evident as Big Bear holds Little Bear closely after the cub takes a flying leap into the boat. This tale has all the hallmarks of a family classic. A loving look at failing at fishing in the best possible way. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
