Big Brown Bear's Up and Down Day

by David McPhail

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Big Brown Bear thought he could enjoy a quiet morning before his afternoon baseball game. But a rat interrupts his reverie when he attempts to purloin one of the bear's slippers to use for a bed. It's a set-up that seems ripe for a classic battle of wits. Rat tries to trick Big Brown Bear into thinking he has won a free trip, "up to the mountains, or down to the seashore. Up to the North Pole or down to the South Pole"-as long as he leaves his slippers behind ("They're not allowed on this trip. Says so right here in the fine print," fibs the unconvincing Rat). The bear stays put, and McPhail paints a gorgeous spread of the environs, with a nearby baseball diamond, orchard and waterfall. But the anticlimax makes the tale teeter between refreshing and unsatisfying. Declining Rat's ruse, the ursine fellow offers the scraggly rodent a bowl of oatmeal topped with bananas and cream-and eventually finds a way to give Rat what he needs. Some youngsters may be intrigued by the way Bear's modest and genuine acts of kindness send the story in an unexpected and more contemplative direction. Other readers, however, may feel that the plot slowly deflates. Ages 3-7.
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School Library Journal :
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PreS-K-A warm and gentle story. Big Brown Bear is at first cross with a rat that tries to appropriate one of his bedroom slippers to use as a bed, but he eventually extends the olive branch by inviting the rodent to stay for a meal. Bear then finds that he has unessential possessions that are perfectly suited to Rat's needs. Beautiful watercolor and pen-and-ink paintings make the most of the size difference between the characters and help to create real personalities by capturing the emotions they experience. The generous use of white space and varied page layouts with creative text placement add to the inviting feel of the book. Bear, in his nightshirt and nightcap, and surrounded by old-fashioned, wooden furniture, is the picture of coziness and security. The well-written text and memorable art make finding room on your shelves for one more story of friendship discovered worthwhile.-Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
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BookList :
From BookList, November 15, 2003, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
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PreS. When Big Brown Bear wakes up and sees his slipper moving across the floor, it's not magic, it's a mouse. Or rather a rat, as Rat corrects Bear. He wants to use Bear's slipper as a bed, but Bear gets the shoe back--for the moment. So begins a tug-of-war between the big brown bear and the small gray rat, vying for ownership of the shoe. A growing affection between the two (and a box of old stuff, including a single slipper) leads to a happy ending. Big Brown Bear, who first appeared in Big Brown Bear (1999), a Green Light Easy Reader, benefits from the oversize format here, which features ink-and-watercolor pictures of the duo in action set against expanses of white. The art is comfy; the text is clever. Young children will respond to the simple theme of friendship found.
IleneCooper.
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