Tiptoe Joe: A Charming Bedtime Story About Meeting Baby Bear Cubs for Kids

by Ginger Foglesong Gibson, Laura Rankin (Illustrator)

Kids will love watching Tiptoe Joe lead a group of his animal friends on an adventure. Joe instructs his buddies to be as quiet as possible. They tiptoe--as well as they can on their hooves, claws, and furry feet--through a field, across a fallen log leading over a stream, through the woods, and up a hill. When they arrive at Joe's, he shows them something very special. It's his brand-new baby bear cubs, fast asleep! Tiptoe Joe is a great pick for parents who want to acclimate a child to a new baby brother or sister, and perfect for bedtime or story hour. Charming full-color illustrations by Laura Rankin bring Tiptoe Joe and the rest of the animals to life.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2013

About the author

Per Library of Congress Authorities site, ECIP change request: author name changed from Ginger Foglesong Guy to Ginger Foglesong Gibson.

Variants: Ginger Foglesong Guy and Ginger Guy.

Reviews

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rhymes were catchy and the Bear was sweet. Who knew a big bear could be light on his feet?

[Jessica Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the use of rhyme and repetition. As Tiptoe Joe tiptoes through the forest, it is fun for kids to follow along with each animals movement. It was a simple and short read that had an adorable surprise at the end.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story that is sure to entertain young children. With its repetitive, rhyming narrative that is full of fun onomatopoeia, the story is great fun to read aloud. The watercolor illustrations are terrific. They are colorful and cartoonish and we love the anthropomorphized animals (a moose wearing glasses!)

Overall, this is a great book to read with children and I think it would work just as well in a group as one on one at bedtime. It's a bit young for our girls, but we all really enjoyed reading it together. So cute!

[Christine Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tiptoe fast, tiptoe slow. Say hello to Tiptoe Joe. Today, Tiptoe Joe has a surprise in store for his friends. What is it? Shhhhhhh. It's a secret. Come along and see for yourself! Ginger Foglesong Gibson's friendly, rhythmic, rollicking text about one big bear's top-secret surprise will enchant children of all ages. Perfect for reading at bedtime or for storytime sharing!

Subjects

Animals -- Juvenile fiction

Noise -- Juvenile fiction.

Stories in rhyme

Very cute.

[pati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaaahhhh! This was my thought as I got to the end of Tiptoe Joe's adventure! The story is simple and the artwork is great. Fun book for the young!

[Julia Boykin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun rhyming picture book. It was mostly made of illustrations with little words. Joe is a bear who meets many animals along his journey. He meets up with a donkey, a bunny, a turkey, a moose, an owl, and a beaver. They tiptoe through a forest and Joe wants them to keep quiet but all the other animals do not know why. At the end Joe shows the animals his secret and why they needed to be quiet. There were two sleeping bear cubs with their mama bear.

This was a simple children's book but would be good for teaching rhyming words in the classroom. The students can listen and read and point out the words that rhyme. The illustrations were very colorful and went along with what the words were saying. The illustrations took up whole pages and some even flowed throughout two pages. Overall this was a fun book and is great for beginner readers.

[Curren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate that this book has rhyme and repetition, which are key for early literacy. However, it was just too basic and boring for me to give it more than a few stars. I love a good picture book, but this is not one I would have the patience the read more than once to a child. Shoot, I barely made it through the one time. The only two things I liked about it were:
1. Good illustrations: Each animal wore a different kind of accessory (shoes, bow, necklace, etc.)
2. The last page was absolutely adorable and finally gave the book some depth. Too bad I had to drag through the entire book to get there.

[Binxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiptoe Joe is a pattern book with plenty of opportunity for the audience to participate in the reading. Close observation of the illustrations helps identify articles of clothing each animal wears. Actions are mentioned and pictured that the audience can do themselves increasing options for group readings. And, a cute story with a sweet conclusion of young sleeping bear cubs, lends itself to cuddle time.

[Elizabeth Moreau Nicolai · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADORABLE! I love this book. So much fun to read at storytime and have the kids get interactive with all the ways the animals walk/fly and the chorus. We had a bill signing here at our library and the governor wanted to read a book to kids. I pulled a selection and this is the one he chose. Even an amateur reader who hasn't seen it before can make this book work with a group. So much fun!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsy and adventure combine to make this book delightful, as well as an excellent aid to parents who are welcoming in a new child. Hint: The story builds up to a joyful parade.

Pictures by Laura Rankin are friendly, and suitable for very young children, yet original and fresh. Well done!

Animal gaits and noises and to the lighthearted tone. A fine romp!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those under-the-radar, older picture books that still resonates with timeless illustrations, repetition (good for littles and lanuage acquisition), onomatopoeia, and rhyming. Fun for a bear themed storytime, and has an ending that will surprise and delight.

Themes: bears, animals, stories that rhyme, action/movement book
Ages: toddler-K
Pub year: 2013

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fellow storyteller used this book in her Toddler Tale program this week and it was so FUN! Lots of different animals, opportunity to be active and use movement, and a sweet story with great illustrations. Great read-aloud.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a cute little story. This is a book for beginner readers. The words repeat and that is great for beginner readers. This is also an AR book for anyone who might want to know. I would recommend this book to others that have children that are just starting to read.

[Andrew Fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this sparse text story about a bear who tiptoes through the woods, inviting his friends along for a big surprise. It's a great story for beginning readers with playful rhyme and beautiful refrains.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiptoe Joe has a secret and surprise to share with his woodland and forest friends. As he tiptoes about gathering all of his friends and leads them to his big surprise, he makes them stay as quiet as possible.

[Jodee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet surprise in the end. Who knew? I certainly didn't and the book never gave any inkling of what was to come.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

great for child participation

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read aloud with sound effects that will have young readers guessing as to why Joe is being so quiet.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute rhyming book with cute illustrations.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storytime book with lots of animals to act out!

[Denise Menger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Predictable text, onomatopoeia, interactive read aloud

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute rhyming tale with lots of fun sounds. Kids enjoyed it.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiptoe Joe - a bear - gathered his friends and had them follow him quietly to see a secret surprise. Beautiful illustrations. Fun rhyme.

[Connie T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this one for story time and the kids were unimpressed.

[Kurt Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations. Fun. A slight surprise at the end. But still fun.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, repetitive rhymes with lots of different animals and sounds and movements the audience can do along with the reader. Great choice for storytime.

[Adam McPhee]

Nice pictures and good use of repetitive onomatopoeia. The ending was kind of sappy though.

[Library To-Go]

05/08/24 PediaTrust story time -JC
05/08/24 Play & Learn story time -JC

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhyming, repetative story.
Cute surprise ending.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book encourages movement. Few words, would work well for babies or as a fill-in for Toddler Storytime.