Reviews for Spring stinks

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Ah, spring. It brings out the best in bearsunless the bears name is Bruce!In this exploration of the characters backstory, the book opens with Bruce as chirpy and full of bonhomie as a pterodactyl on a bad day. Ruth the bunny, however, is beside herself as she revels in the glories of the season. Pilfering Bruces basket, she insists on rubbing Bruces unappreciative nose in a cornucopia of scents (erstinks). Grass? Daisies? Wet moose? Grrrr! grumbles Bruce. One after another, the fresh and abundant offerings of nature are met with Bruces ringing approvalwell, more like a grudging toleranceactually, a resounding, Rrrr! Wait a minute! Is that honey? Bruce likes honey, doesnt he? But then a bee makes a beeeeeeeline straight for Bruces beeeeeeehind. He careens tail over teakettle, much to Ruths delight, down a grassy hill until he lands, honey-smeared, on his banged-up head right in the path of askunk! Spring stinks. Higgins sparse text is humorously juxtaposed with his signature, detail-packed, engaging illustrations. The mouse-sized treehouse and the despondent, dripping moose are especially delightful. Bruces unibrow is practically a protagonist in and of itself. Ruths exuberance plays off Bruces disgruntledness like a sweet pear off gorgonzola. (This book was reviewed digitally with 7-by-14-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)The energy snapping within each action-packed frame adds to the rollicking fun Bruce is definitely not having. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Ah, spring. It brings out the best in bears—unless the bear’s name is Bruce! In this exploration of the character’s backstory, the book opens with Bruce as chirpy and full of bonhomie as a pterodactyl on a bad day. Ruth the bunny, however, is beside herself as she revels in the glories of the season. Pilfering Bruce’s basket, she insists on rubbing Bruce’s unappreciative nose in a cornucopia of scents (er—stinks). Grass? Daisies? Wet moose? “ ‘Grrrr!’ grumbles Bruce.” One after another, the fresh and abundant offerings of nature are met with Bruce’s ringing approval—well, more like a grudging tolerance—actually, a resounding, “Rrrr!” Wait a minute! Is that honey? Bruce likes honey, doesn’t he? But then a bee makes a “beeeeeeeline” straight for Bruce’s “beeeeeeehind.” He careens tail over teakettle, much to Ruth’s delight, down a grassy hill until he lands, honey-smeared, on his banged-up head right in the path of a—skunk! Spring stinks. Higgins’ sparse text is humorously juxtaposed with his signature, detail-packed, engaging illustrations. The mouse-sized treehouse and the despondent, dripping moose are especially delightful. Bruce’s unibrow is practically a protagonist in and of itself. Ruth’s exuberance plays off Bruce’s disgruntledness like a sweet pear off gorgonzola. (This book was reviewed digitally with 7-by-14-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) The energy snapping within each action-packed frame adds to the rollicking fun Bruce is definitely not having. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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