The animals in the forest are playing hide-and-seek, and everyone is found--except for the biggest one of all! Where, oh where, could Bear have gone? One thing is Bear's friends will do whatever it takes to find him.
Lesléa Newman's rhythmic text and Valeri Gorbachev's charming illustrations will make every child eager to join this playful search for the missing Bear.
Lesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear. She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists. Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday. She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage. In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.
Normally I wouldn't have paid much attention to this cute little story about a game of hide and seek. Here's why I point it out to customers: a) the story specifically refers to three animals as "she" even as b) the illustrations are 100% ungendered.
This makes this book unique in my experience. What -- female animals exist? But no pink, no bows, no lipstick, no long eyelashes?? Just a bunch of (anthropomorphized) animals playing together? YES, PLEASE!
Where is Bear is high-quality in every aspect, even its binding and materials. The rhyming story is simple and appealing to young children. And the illustrations are really great.
Where is Bear is a cute rhyming book with clever illustrations about the fun game of hide-and-seek. Bear is the best animal at playing hide-and-seek, so all the other animals have to find him. Parents and teachers could use this book to get children excited about getting outside and playing active games with other children.
Fox, Bear, Ladybug, Snake, Crow, Ant, Beetle, Turtle, Skunk, Chipmunk, Frog, Mole, Bunny, Turtle play hide-and-seek together. Fun rhyme and beautiful illustrations tell the cute story of friends. They are all found except for Bear. Funny ending.
This book contained a charming little story told in rhyme, that was accompanied by cute and clever illustrations. As another reviewer noted: Look at the frog on the front cover.