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Bear and Mouse #1
A Visitor for Bear
Cheery persistence wears down a curmudgeonly bear in a wry comedy of manners that ends in a most unlikely friendship.
Bear is quite sure he doesn't like visitors. He even has a sign. So when a mouse taps on his door one day, Bear tells him to leave. But when Bear goes to the cupboard to get a bowl, there is the mouse -- small and gray and bright-eyed. In this slapstick tale that begs to be read aloud, all Bear wants is to eat his breakfast in peace, but the mouse -- who keeps popping up in the most unexpected places -- just won't go away!
Bear is quite sure he doesn't like visitors. He even has a sign. So when a mouse taps on his door one day, Bear tells him to leave. But when Bear goes to the cupboard to get a bowl, there is the mouse -- small and gray and bright-eyed. In this slapstick tale that begs to be read aloud, all Bear wants is to eat his breakfast in peace, but the mouse -- who keeps popping up in the most unexpected places -- just won't go away!
56 pages, Hardcover
First published February 26, 2008
19 people are currently reading
1756 people want to read
About the author
Bonny Becker
25 books113 followersBonny Becker is the author of a number of award-winning picture books and middle-grade novels. She lives in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 492 reviews
April 6, 2008
Cute is hard. Picture book cute, that is. A lot of people might disagree with that, but I'm going to make a case here. There's a perception out there that if you slap a pair of big brown eyes and a furry tail on something, badda-bing! Instant adorable. Picture books, however, offer the greatest test any author or artist has to face. Because cute isn't just a visual state. It's reliant on a story that can be touching without becoming candy-coated and saccharine. It requires a certain level of restraint on both the author and the illustrator's part. Cute is hard to do and do well. Like I say, anyone can fake it and end up on a line of greeting cards, but very few people can make cute count for something. Bonny Becker can. With her remarkable A Visitor for Bear, Becker teams with top notch illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton to bring us a book that actually goes on beyond "cute" into something more. This is a book that warms the cold cockles of even the grumpiest heart. People who cringe at the sight of Bambi and shudder at baby chicks will be instantly charmed by Becker and Denton's tale of a grump that learns that sometimes the right visitor is worth the vexation that comes with giving up your privacy.
Bear's pretty good at keeping people away. No one ever visits him, and just in case one does he has a big sign in front that reads, "NO visitors allowed". Just in case. Everything is fine and dandy until one day a mouse "small and gray and bright-eyed" knocks on the door. Bear says in no uncertain terms that he is not keen on visitors. The mouse seems to understand, but when Bear attempts to get out a bowl for himself, there sits the mouse asking for a spot of tea. After throwing out the unwanted guest Bear tries to open his bread drawer next, and there again is the mouse! To Bear's increasing frustration the mouse is absolutely everywhere, and no amount of stoppering or locking keeps him away. At last, Bear consents to having a bit of tea with the miniscule visitor and soon discovers that the mouse is attentive, easily impressed, and laughs at Bear's jokes. And when it is time for the mouse to go, Bear finds himself unceremoniously ripping down the "NO visitors allowed" sign. After all, he says, that is a sign for salesmen. Not for friends.
The book works because in the space of a mere 56 pages it establishes character and personality perfectly. In a way, this is a story of two fastidious creatures, one open to new friends and one not. It makes perfect sense to me that Bear and the mouse would get along. Just look at how they are presented. Bear lays out his single cup and single spoon with a delicacy at odds with his sheer mass. The mouse, similarly, is taken to speaking in polite, clipped tones. "Terribly sorry... Now you see me; now you don't. I am gone." I imagine him being voiced by Basil Rathbone, perhaps. And Bear would be John Houston.
My boss read through this book and sighed with relief when he got to the end. "I was worried that at some point we'd see a large group of mice." It actually never occurred to me that the mouse might be pulling off his appearances by being of a number greater than one. And though that would have been a nice enough idea, it's been done before (with frogs, apparently). Also, had the Bear discovered twenty or so mice hiding within the crawl spaces, nooks, and crannies of his home, it would have taken away from his slow realization that maybe having someone over for tea isn't so bad. Bear's change of heart isn't actually all that fast for a picture book. It's only during the course of tea that he comes to see how nice it is to have someone around to laugh at your jokes and listen to your stories. I also loved that the mouse brought along his own teacup. He must have, since it seems unlikely that Bear would have had a mouse-sized cup sitting about is cupboards.
And talk about a great readaloud. As the bear gets increasingly vexed his words get more and more delicious. "Vamoose!" he says at one point. "Begone!" he cries at another. "This is impossible! Intolerable! Insufferable!" And as he says these things Bear's face turns the faintest shade of pink as blue lines almost emanate off of him. And what does Bear say when at last he has been outwitted by the mouse's persistence? "I am undone." Picture books that read aloud well are not as common as you might think. The advantage to Becker's story is that her characters are so distinct. The mouse's mode of speaking is definitely different from Bear's, allowing the reader to give them wonderful voices of their own. As for the illustrator's pictures, Kady MacDonald Denton's images telegraph well across a crowded room. The size of the book is ideal for large groups of children and though the colors are soft and natural, that is not to say that they don't pop off of the page with aplomb.
I guess I'd never seen a book illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton before. I say this because I think I would remember her style. Denton is like the Bob Fosse of children's illustration. Characters' movements often come down to the most delicate turns of their wrists, or the way their feet stick up in just the right way. The mouse is an adorable and delicate fellow. He is indeed small and gray and bright-eyed but it's really his single-minded attentiveness that makes him such a sterling companion. Bear, on the other hand, really does feel as if he has weight and bulk. His belly sags believably and Denton has been very careful to make his weight fall in such a way that he never looks unbalanced (unless, of course, he is flinging himself to the floor on purpose). The delicate illustrations are done entirely in watercolor, ink, and gouache, which is rather nice. I was particularly taken with the choice of season. This is a distinctly autumnal book. The trees in the background are changing and there's always a spare leaf floating to the ground in one scene or another. It is clear that Denton thought through Becker's story since why else would Bear create a roaring crackling fire in the fireplace unless it was a slightly chilly day outside? And the occasional illustrated word really made the book pop. At the height of his frustration Bear roars a massive "Begone!" that unlike every other word in the book is actually illustrated. It only happens once, but I like seeing an illustrator know how to ratchet up a story's build-up and suspense through carefully chosen moments.
On the bookflap of this book Ms. Becker says of herself, "I hesitate to admit how much Bear is in me, but I'm grateful for every lovely mouse in my life." Everyone has a little bit of Bear in them, I think. We've all had those days when we just want to sit and stew in our own solitary juices. When the thought of sharing our space with another human being sounds like way too much work. A Visitor for Bear is as much a fabulous picture book as it is a cautionary tale. Sometimes it takes a mouse to get us moving. Consider "A Visitor for Bear" a book with classic-appeal.
Ages 3-8.
Bear's pretty good at keeping people away. No one ever visits him, and just in case one does he has a big sign in front that reads, "NO visitors allowed". Just in case. Everything is fine and dandy until one day a mouse "small and gray and bright-eyed" knocks on the door. Bear says in no uncertain terms that he is not keen on visitors. The mouse seems to understand, but when Bear attempts to get out a bowl for himself, there sits the mouse asking for a spot of tea. After throwing out the unwanted guest Bear tries to open his bread drawer next, and there again is the mouse! To Bear's increasing frustration the mouse is absolutely everywhere, and no amount of stoppering or locking keeps him away. At last, Bear consents to having a bit of tea with the miniscule visitor and soon discovers that the mouse is attentive, easily impressed, and laughs at Bear's jokes. And when it is time for the mouse to go, Bear finds himself unceremoniously ripping down the "NO visitors allowed" sign. After all, he says, that is a sign for salesmen. Not for friends.
The book works because in the space of a mere 56 pages it establishes character and personality perfectly. In a way, this is a story of two fastidious creatures, one open to new friends and one not. It makes perfect sense to me that Bear and the mouse would get along. Just look at how they are presented. Bear lays out his single cup and single spoon with a delicacy at odds with his sheer mass. The mouse, similarly, is taken to speaking in polite, clipped tones. "Terribly sorry... Now you see me; now you don't. I am gone." I imagine him being voiced by Basil Rathbone, perhaps. And Bear would be John Houston.
My boss read through this book and sighed with relief when he got to the end. "I was worried that at some point we'd see a large group of mice." It actually never occurred to me that the mouse might be pulling off his appearances by being of a number greater than one. And though that would have been a nice enough idea, it's been done before (with frogs, apparently). Also, had the Bear discovered twenty or so mice hiding within the crawl spaces, nooks, and crannies of his home, it would have taken away from his slow realization that maybe having someone over for tea isn't so bad. Bear's change of heart isn't actually all that fast for a picture book. It's only during the course of tea that he comes to see how nice it is to have someone around to laugh at your jokes and listen to your stories. I also loved that the mouse brought along his own teacup. He must have, since it seems unlikely that Bear would have had a mouse-sized cup sitting about is cupboards.
And talk about a great readaloud. As the bear gets increasingly vexed his words get more and more delicious. "Vamoose!" he says at one point. "Begone!" he cries at another. "This is impossible! Intolerable! Insufferable!" And as he says these things Bear's face turns the faintest shade of pink as blue lines almost emanate off of him. And what does Bear say when at last he has been outwitted by the mouse's persistence? "I am undone." Picture books that read aloud well are not as common as you might think. The advantage to Becker's story is that her characters are so distinct. The mouse's mode of speaking is definitely different from Bear's, allowing the reader to give them wonderful voices of their own. As for the illustrator's pictures, Kady MacDonald Denton's images telegraph well across a crowded room. The size of the book is ideal for large groups of children and though the colors are soft and natural, that is not to say that they don't pop off of the page with aplomb.
I guess I'd never seen a book illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton before. I say this because I think I would remember her style. Denton is like the Bob Fosse of children's illustration. Characters' movements often come down to the most delicate turns of their wrists, or the way their feet stick up in just the right way. The mouse is an adorable and delicate fellow. He is indeed small and gray and bright-eyed but it's really his single-minded attentiveness that makes him such a sterling companion. Bear, on the other hand, really does feel as if he has weight and bulk. His belly sags believably and Denton has been very careful to make his weight fall in such a way that he never looks unbalanced (unless, of course, he is flinging himself to the floor on purpose). The delicate illustrations are done entirely in watercolor, ink, and gouache, which is rather nice. I was particularly taken with the choice of season. This is a distinctly autumnal book. The trees in the background are changing and there's always a spare leaf floating to the ground in one scene or another. It is clear that Denton thought through Becker's story since why else would Bear create a roaring crackling fire in the fireplace unless it was a slightly chilly day outside? And the occasional illustrated word really made the book pop. At the height of his frustration Bear roars a massive "Begone!" that unlike every other word in the book is actually illustrated. It only happens once, but I like seeing an illustrator know how to ratchet up a story's build-up and suspense through carefully chosen moments.
On the bookflap of this book Ms. Becker says of herself, "I hesitate to admit how much Bear is in me, but I'm grateful for every lovely mouse in my life." Everyone has a little bit of Bear in them, I think. We've all had those days when we just want to sit and stew in our own solitary juices. When the thought of sharing our space with another human being sounds like way too much work. A Visitor for Bear is as much a fabulous picture book as it is a cautionary tale. Sometimes it takes a mouse to get us moving. Consider "A Visitor for Bear" a book with classic-appeal.
Ages 3-8.
May 18, 2019
So that's how they met! I've read two other books in this series, but never this first one, where Bear meets Mouse.
Mouse is certainly persistent. All Bear wants to do is have his breakfast in peace. He doesn't like people (er... animals) and prefers to do things on his own. So when a friendly mouse shows up at his door wanting to have a nice tea with him, Bear does everything he can to get rid of the bothersome guest. Eventually, though, he relents and grudgingly makes tea... only to find that maybe an attentive friend isn't the worst thing in the world.
I don't think this is my favourite book in the series, but it's still pretty strong. The illustrations are amusing, as usual. While I'm not always a fan of Bear and his attitude, I kind of love Mouse. He's the sort of friend everyone should have.
I'm glad I finally got to read this first book and see how the friendship began!
Quotable moment:
Mouse is certainly persistent. All Bear wants to do is have his breakfast in peace. He doesn't like people (er... animals) and prefers to do things on his own. So when a friendly mouse shows up at his door wanting to have a nice tea with him, Bear does everything he can to get rid of the bothersome guest. Eventually, though, he relents and grudgingly makes tea... only to find that maybe an attentive friend isn't the worst thing in the world.
I don't think this is my favourite book in the series, but it's still pretty strong. The illustrations are amusing, as usual. While I'm not always a fan of Bear and his attitude, I kind of love Mouse. He's the sort of friend everyone should have.
I'm glad I finally got to read this first book and see how the friendship began!
Quotable moment:
Read
August 16, 2023A Mouse ignores a Bear’s boundary, and violates his property. Despite the Bear’s clear demand for solitude, the Mouse persists, eventually manipulating the Bear into doubting his own decisions. Or, that’s how it could be very much easily and unconsciously interpreted regardless of the intended message.
I believe boundaries and personal spaces should be respected no matter what we think it’s the best for the other individuals. I can kinda get the overall message, but I believe there’s better ways to present it without giving mixed signals and without supporting creepy, toxic, and some illegal behaviors.
the illustrations were super whimsical. All Bears’ houses I knew throughout my life (and I know three) were the epitome of cozy, comfy, and lively places. And I demand my share of that.
May 22, 2008
Ahhhh.
I dare you NOT to give the mouse a British accent if you read this aloud. I just DARE you. Go ahead, try. It's not possible.
This is a lovely book -- sweet without being sappy or annoying. There are also some great opportunities for learning some new vocabulary words -- VAMOOSE! INSUFFERABLE! -- which are easily explained in context. Perhaps a bit long, page-wise, for preschool storytime, but I'm going to try it out with some kids tomorrow and see how it goes. Perhaps the story'll hook them enough that they'll not get squirmy.
I dare you NOT to give the mouse a British accent if you read this aloud. I just DARE you. Go ahead, try. It's not possible.
This is a lovely book -- sweet without being sappy or annoying. There are also some great opportunities for learning some new vocabulary words -- VAMOOSE! INSUFFERABLE! -- which are easily explained in context. Perhaps a bit long, page-wise, for preschool storytime, but I'm going to try it out with some kids tomorrow and see how it goes. Perhaps the story'll hook them enough that they'll not get squirmy.
April 30, 2012
This teaches some pretty creepy lessons to children. Like seriously something that should never be read to kids creepy.
Bear doesn't like visitors (apparently he hasn't had any, and as such has decided he doesn't like them). Mouse shows up one day and knocks on the door. Bear tells him to go away. The next ten pages or so are of Bear starting to make his solitary tea only to be interrupted by the fact that Mouse has (apparently) broken into the house and is stashed wherever Bear is going to go next (the refrigerator for an egg, the tea pot for the water, the cupboard for the bread, etc.). Each time Bear tells Mouse to leave and Mouse says "of course of course, I'm going" (paraphrase). Only each time Mouse has returned. So Mouse is lying. Finally Bear is overwhelmed by the onslaught and agrees to Mouse's demands. Mouse says ze just wants a "little" tea to share with Bear. Bear then goes around the house and *undoes* EVERY bit of security that he had put up, making himself vulnerable again, all because Mouse is still in the house and basically demands it (ze wants the chimney unstopped so they can have a fire).
So up till now we have lying, coercion, and ignoring another person's expressed boundaries.
Then we find out that as the tea commences Bear becomes friendly towards Mouse because Mouse is willing to pay attention to him and look at his headstands and comment on the loveliness of the fire. Then Mouse *manipulates* Bear into taking down his sign saying "No Visitors" because ze goes to leave and says "I promised I'd leave" even though Bear starts to beg zir to stay.
So now we have Further coercion, and then the writer showing that Bear *secretly wanted* someone to ignore his boundaries and force him to engage in conversation, so much so that he falls to the ground trying to stop Mouse from leaving. Bear then further proves this by tearing up his sign and saying it "doesn't count."
You see where I'm going with this? This is like the EXACT narrative of a rape culture. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing and the RIGHT response from yourvictim potential friend is to finally acquiesce to your demands. Then! It shows that secretly your victim friend *WANTED YOU* to force them into it. That's right. Seriously. FUCKED UP.
Bear doesn't like visitors (apparently he hasn't had any, and as such has decided he doesn't like them). Mouse shows up one day and knocks on the door. Bear tells him to go away. The next ten pages or so are of Bear starting to make his solitary tea only to be interrupted by the fact that Mouse has (apparently) broken into the house and is stashed wherever Bear is going to go next (the refrigerator for an egg, the tea pot for the water, the cupboard for the bread, etc.). Each time Bear tells Mouse to leave and Mouse says "of course of course, I'm going" (paraphrase). Only each time Mouse has returned. So Mouse is lying. Finally Bear is overwhelmed by the onslaught and agrees to Mouse's demands. Mouse says ze just wants a "little" tea to share with Bear. Bear then goes around the house and *undoes* EVERY bit of security that he had put up, making himself vulnerable again, all because Mouse is still in the house and basically demands it (ze wants the chimney unstopped so they can have a fire).
So up till now we have lying, coercion, and ignoring another person's expressed boundaries.
Then we find out that as the tea commences Bear becomes friendly towards Mouse because Mouse is willing to pay attention to him and look at his headstands and comment on the loveliness of the fire. Then Mouse *manipulates* Bear into taking down his sign saying "No Visitors" because ze goes to leave and says "I promised I'd leave" even though Bear starts to beg zir to stay.
So now we have Further coercion, and then the writer showing that Bear *secretly wanted* someone to ignore his boundaries and force him to engage in conversation, so much so that he falls to the ground trying to stop Mouse from leaving. Bear then further proves this by tearing up his sign and saying it "doesn't count."
You see where I'm going with this? This is like the EXACT narrative of a rape culture. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing and the RIGHT response from your
July 10, 2011
This is a wonderful book for reading aloud. There are many opportunities for voice inflection. Fun!
The illustrations are very appealing and bear’s expressiveness is hilarious at times. Bear’s house looks so cozy and bear and mouse are both very cute.
This (new) friendship story is very sweet, although in real life I suspect mouse would annoy me; my friends know to call or email ahead if they’re going to visit, though as I child I enjoyed it when a playmate knocked on the door or rang the doorbell hoping I’d want to do something with them. A bit of an introvert but enjoying time with friends and making new friends, I identified with bear.
The illustrations are very appealing and bear’s expressiveness is hilarious at times. Bear’s house looks so cozy and bear and mouse are both very cute.
This (new) friendship story is very sweet, although in real life I suspect mouse would annoy me; my friends know to call or email ahead if they’re going to visit, though as I child I enjoyed it when a playmate knocked on the door or rang the doorbell hoping I’d want to do something with them. A bit of an introvert but enjoying time with friends and making new friends, I identified with bear.
March 11, 2016
Bear, having never had a visitor, decides he doesn't like visitors. Mouse pops up all over the place (as mice tend to do) requesting tea, cheese, and a cozy fire. A bear with an excellent vocabulary and a mouse who demands a British accent make this a pleasure to read. A favorite for it's beautiful illustrations and adorable story.
October 10, 2012
I read this to the kids during afternoon tea time, and they were so into it they were hardly eating!
Bear doesn't like visitors, and in fact he has a sign on his door saying "No visitors allowed". One day as he's about to get his breakfast ready, a mouse knocks on his door. Bear tells him to go away, and closes the door in his face. But every time he goes to get an item for his breakfast - a cup, an egg etc. - there's the mouse! How did he get in? No matter how many times Bear keeps throwing the mouse out, he keeps turning up. Until Bear gives in, and lets Mouse join him for breakfast. They have a wonderful time, and Bear wants the mouse to stay, but the mouse promised he would leave after eating and so he goes. Bear practically begs him to stay, and mouse points at his sign. Bear tears it up and says, that's for salesmen, not for friends. And thus Bear makes his first (unlikely) friend!
It's a great story to read aloud, with lots of inflection and intonation and emphasising the different voices, and the pictures are lovely complements - and it's fun to try and spot the mouse, hiding in the kitchen.
Bear doesn't like visitors, and in fact he has a sign on his door saying "No visitors allowed". One day as he's about to get his breakfast ready, a mouse knocks on his door. Bear tells him to go away, and closes the door in his face. But every time he goes to get an item for his breakfast - a cup, an egg etc. - there's the mouse! How did he get in? No matter how many times Bear keeps throwing the mouse out, he keeps turning up. Until Bear gives in, and lets Mouse join him for breakfast. They have a wonderful time, and Bear wants the mouse to stay, but the mouse promised he would leave after eating and so he goes. Bear practically begs him to stay, and mouse points at his sign. Bear tears it up and says, that's for salesmen, not for friends. And thus Bear makes his first (unlikely) friend!
It's a great story to read aloud, with lots of inflection and intonation and emphasising the different voices, and the pictures are lovely complements - and it's fun to try and spot the mouse, hiding in the kitchen.
November 24, 2009
Disliked the beginning, loved the end! It's the usual story of a curmudgeon's armor being worn away by a persistent and charming soon-to-be friend. However, at first, I just felt the mouse was annoying! Who was he to keep ignoring bear's requests to be left alone just because he (mouse) wanted some food and a play to stay? After all, some creatures really do just want some solitude! By the end, it is clear that bear was unhappy in his solitude and we may hope/insinuate that mouse knew this and had altruistic motives all along. Even so, I cannot quite give this one the glowing reviews so many others have, and it's a NY Times Bestseller. Maybe I am just too much of a curmudgeon myself! ;-/
March 28, 2020
This book is incredibly creepy, passed off as cute. Mouse repeatedly ignores Bear’s requests to be left alone, breaks into Bear’s house, manipulates Bear, then gaslights Bear. This is not the message we should be teaching our kids and I’m appalled this was published.
March 16, 2022
Maybe I am in the wrong mood or just reading too much into the story. However, with today's emphasis on "No means no" I am not sure that this story of a mouse stalking a bear and ignoring the bear's request to be left alone is the message that we should be giving children...
November 19, 2018
The first of four stories to feature this ursine/murine duo - subsequent titles include
A Birthday for Bear
,
A Bedtime for Bear
, and the forthcoming
The Sniffles for Bear
- this charming picture-book follows the slightly less-than-hospitable Bear, who does not want guests (under any circumstances), and his dealings with a "small and gray and bright-eyed" mouse-visitor who doesn't know how to take a hint. Who will win out, in their contest of wills: the irritable bear, or the insouciant mouse...?
A Visitor for Bear was an unexpected delight, on my train-ride into the city this morning! Mouse's antics, in persistently popping up, and Bear's increasingly incredulous frustration, had me giggling. The heart-warming ending, while perhaps not so surprising, was quite satisfying, and the watercolor, ink and gouache illustrations were just adorable! All in all, a sweet little book about an odd couple who wind up friends - one I recommend to unhappy little bears and overly persistent mice, as well as to children who like to read about them.
A Visitor for Bear was an unexpected delight, on my train-ride into the city this morning! Mouse's antics, in persistently popping up, and Bear's increasingly incredulous frustration, had me giggling. The heart-warming ending, while perhaps not so surprising, was quite satisfying, and the watercolor, ink and gouache illustrations were just adorable! All in all, a sweet little book about an odd couple who wind up friends - one I recommend to unhappy little bears and overly persistent mice, as well as to children who like to read about them.
July 21, 2017
خیلی کیف دارد وقتی که می بینی عبارتی از یک کتاب به واژگان روزمره ی بچّه جون خوب راه پیدا کرده!
و سوغات ما از این کتاب عبارت "با چشم های شاد و براق" است!
:)
و سوغات ما از این کتاب عبارت "با چشم های شاد و براق" است!
:)
Read
September 2, 2025The grumpy bear made me smile, and the little mouse was cute too!
June 23, 2008
The positives:
The animals' faces are highly expressive. Neither Bear nor Mouse is really "cute" -- they look realistic with Bear's voluminous shape and the skinniness of the Mouse. The light and earthy color scheme fits the animal setting as well. Although predictable in some way, the popping up of the Mouse at various spots in the house will make the youngest set of listeners squeal with delight. I can totally see this one at a library reading aloud program and become a favorite, especially with its friendship theme, too. The last two sentences are great,
"Do you like one lump or two?" said Bear, most politely.
I like two," said the mouse. And bear agreed.
There is a lot of humor in the telling:
there was the moues! (small and gray and bright-eyed, of course.) <-- the conspiratorial tone again makes this a good sharing title.
The negatives:
I find the mouse's persistence that drives bear crazy unsavory, instead of endearing. It's my very jaded adult perspective that makes me highly uncomfortable with this stalker quality -- and with an often psychological underpinning of stalkers: If I were to persist, so-and-so will learn to accept me and appreciate me.
Although the mouse's reappearances are surprising and fun, it would have been so much more convincing and better if there are visual clues as to how mouse manages to get into the various spots (like the fridge and the cupboard.)
Additional Notes
Bear is Bear; mouse is mouse (capital/lower case)
The animals' faces are highly expressive. Neither Bear nor Mouse is really "cute" -- they look realistic with Bear's voluminous shape and the skinniness of the Mouse. The light and earthy color scheme fits the animal setting as well. Although predictable in some way, the popping up of the Mouse at various spots in the house will make the youngest set of listeners squeal with delight. I can totally see this one at a library reading aloud program and become a favorite, especially with its friendship theme, too. The last two sentences are great,
"Do you like one lump or two?" said Bear, most politely.
I like two," said the mouse. And bear agreed.
There is a lot of humor in the telling:
there was the moues! (small and gray and bright-eyed, of course.) <-- the conspiratorial tone again makes this a good sharing title.
The negatives:
I find the mouse's persistence that drives bear crazy unsavory, instead of endearing. It's my very jaded adult perspective that makes me highly uncomfortable with this stalker quality -- and with an often psychological underpinning of stalkers: If I were to persist, so-and-so will learn to accept me and appreciate me.
Although the mouse's reappearances are surprising and fun, it would have been so much more convincing and better if there are visual clues as to how mouse manages to get into the various spots (like the fridge and the cupboard.)
Additional Notes
Bear is Bear; mouse is mouse (capital/lower case)
January 10, 2011
Adorable tale nominated for a California Young Reader Medal this year. I read this book 17 times this week to various classes and loved every reading. The students help me rediscover this book in different ways. It is a great story about a bear who wants no visitors and a mouse who is persistent in showing up all over the place. Finally bear agrees to let mouse stay if mouse promises to leave after some tea. During the tea, Bear discovers that he likes mouse's company. Finally mouse begins to leave as agreed upon, but Bear wants mouse to stay. Mouse points out a sign that says no visitors allowed. Bear tears it down saying, "That's for salesmen, not for friends." Children who have read this enjoy thinking about how mouse continued to get into bears house. We have had long discussions on whether there is a hole in a wall or mouse sneaks in just before Bear closes a door. The kids also love figuring out mouse's motivation to continuously visit Bear. Is he just a homeless mouse in desperate search of a meal or did mouse know that Bear didn't want visitors and came just to show Bear how to be a friend. We have also talked about Bear. Why did he feel like that about visitors? Did he have a bad experience once or has he just been lonely for so long that he put on a stern face and declared himself alone. Any book that is able to elicit that much discussion in students is a great read!!!
October 5, 2013
Bear likes peace and quiet and wants to be left alone. Bear even has a sign outside his house to keep visitors away. One day, Bear hears a knock on the door during breakfast. Bear opens up the door and looks down to see a small grey mouse. Bear turns mouse away and continues to make breakfast, only to find the mouse in his cupboard! Bear shows the mouse to the door and asks him to leave. However, as Bear carries on with making his breakfast, the mouse begins to appear in the fridge, in the cupboard and all over the kitchen! Bear continues to show mouse the door, until he finds him in the oven, which at this point, Bear invites Mouse in for breakfast. As Bear and Mouse spend time together over breakfast, they begin to form an unlikely friendship, and in the end Bear doesn't want Mouse to go home.
I really enjoyed reading this book, as it is a simple story which has a nice moral to it: to give people a chance. I enjoyed looking at the illustrations in the book as well, as they helped with my imagination of the story. I think this book would be a perfect addition to a Reception and a Year One bookshelf. The book could be used to read aloud to the children and could also help them with their writing skills. Another possible use is that the book could be used for independent reading, depending upon the ability of the child.
I really enjoyed reading this book, as it is a simple story which has a nice moral to it: to give people a chance. I enjoyed looking at the illustrations in the book as well, as they helped with my imagination of the story. I think this book would be a perfect addition to a Reception and a Year One bookshelf. The book could be used to read aloud to the children and could also help them with their writing skills. Another possible use is that the book could be used for independent reading, depending upon the ability of the child.
May 24, 2018
A recommended read aloud for ages 6-8 by the University of Minnesota. A grumpy bear who wants to be left alone keeps having a mouse break into his house. He learns that company can be nice...but really do we want people who break into our house to be our friends? I'm probably too crabby and nit picky but this wouldn't be the message I would want to send children. Not recommended.
January 9, 2025
A treatise on the power of persistence in human relationships, comically told and sensitively illustrated.
January 29, 2023
Reviewed for THC Reviews
A Visitor for Bear is the first book in Bonny Becker’s Bear and Mouse children’s book series. Bear lives alone, which is what he prefers, and he even has a big “NO Visitors Allowed” sign on his door to let everyone know. One day, a little mouse, “small and gray and bright-eyed” shows up at his door. Bear promptly sends the mouse on his way, but the little guy just keeps popping up everywhere no matter what Bear does to try to keep him out. Exasperated, Bear finally agrees to let the mouse stay for tea if he leaves right after, but Bear is surprised to find a nice companion. When teatime is over and the mouse voluntarily starts to leave as agreed, Bear finally realizes it’s actually nice having a friend.
Depending on your point of view, this might be a cute and humorous book that can teach kids about the importance of friendship and about not giving up on someone just because they’re grumpy or unfriendly. Bear learns how nice it is to have someone around who appreciates him and the mouse seems to just eagerly want to make friends and won’t give up until he does. Kady MacDonald Denton’s illustrations nicely complement the story. They’re done is soft pastel shades that give it a calming feel.
However, all that said, something about the story didn’t entirely sit well with me. At first, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but after reading a few negative reviews of the book, I finally figured out what it was. As an introvert, who appreciates strong boundaries and respect for personal space, mouse repeatedly going against Bear’s clearly expressed wishes came off as a bit disrespectful to me and perhaps not the kind of behavior we should be teaching our kids. Mouse also keeps sneaking into the house after saying he won’t, which is essentially lying. While being persistent can be great with regards to certain things and a wonderful lesson for kids under the right circumstances, there are times when it can be taken to a level where it’s no longer good but simply annoying. Unfortunately for me, I felt like mouse’s actions fell more toward the latter, but he ended up rewarded for it anyway, while poor beleaguered Bear simply gives in. Sure he gets a friend out of it, but what kind of friendship can you have with someone who doesn’t show respect for your personal space? I know I’m very much in the minority on this, as the high ratings at both GoodReads and Amazon clearly demonstrate that a lot of other kids and parents have found humor and enjoyment within its pages. For me, though, A Visitor for Bear was simply an okay read with reservations. I like children’s books about friendships, but I think it could have been written differently so as to not come off seeming like it���s somehow wrong to like a solitary life and simultaneously okay to violate someone’s clearly expressed “no” if everything turns out all right in the end. That said, I might still be open to checking out the other books in the series at some point.
A Visitor for Bear is the first book in Bonny Becker’s Bear and Mouse children’s book series. Bear lives alone, which is what he prefers, and he even has a big “NO Visitors Allowed” sign on his door to let everyone know. One day, a little mouse, “small and gray and bright-eyed” shows up at his door. Bear promptly sends the mouse on his way, but the little guy just keeps popping up everywhere no matter what Bear does to try to keep him out. Exasperated, Bear finally agrees to let the mouse stay for tea if he leaves right after, but Bear is surprised to find a nice companion. When teatime is over and the mouse voluntarily starts to leave as agreed, Bear finally realizes it’s actually nice having a friend.
Depending on your point of view, this might be a cute and humorous book that can teach kids about the importance of friendship and about not giving up on someone just because they’re grumpy or unfriendly. Bear learns how nice it is to have someone around who appreciates him and the mouse seems to just eagerly want to make friends and won’t give up until he does. Kady MacDonald Denton’s illustrations nicely complement the story. They’re done is soft pastel shades that give it a calming feel.
However, all that said, something about the story didn’t entirely sit well with me. At first, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but after reading a few negative reviews of the book, I finally figured out what it was. As an introvert, who appreciates strong boundaries and respect for personal space, mouse repeatedly going against Bear’s clearly expressed wishes came off as a bit disrespectful to me and perhaps not the kind of behavior we should be teaching our kids. Mouse also keeps sneaking into the house after saying he won’t, which is essentially lying. While being persistent can be great with regards to certain things and a wonderful lesson for kids under the right circumstances, there are times when it can be taken to a level where it’s no longer good but simply annoying. Unfortunately for me, I felt like mouse’s actions fell more toward the latter, but he ended up rewarded for it anyway, while poor beleaguered Bear simply gives in. Sure he gets a friend out of it, but what kind of friendship can you have with someone who doesn’t show respect for your personal space? I know I’m very much in the minority on this, as the high ratings at both GoodReads and Amazon clearly demonstrate that a lot of other kids and parents have found humor and enjoyment within its pages. For me, though, A Visitor for Bear was simply an okay read with reservations. I like children’s books about friendships, but I think it could have been written differently so as to not come off seeming like it���s somehow wrong to like a solitary life and simultaneously okay to violate someone’s clearly expressed “no” if everything turns out all right in the end. That said, I might still be open to checking out the other books in the series at some point.
July 31, 2019
Sometimes, you need a person who’s willing to push past the gruff cries of “Begone! Vamoose!” to fill a lonely house with their attention and friendship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2022
Very sweet! Might buy this one for our collection.
August 13, 2025
Very cute.
February 15, 2023
This book is a delight, especially read aloud. Who would have thought that a friendship between a cantankerous old bear and a mouse would be so engaging? And it’s great vocabulary exposure! It restored my hope in modern children’s books.
October 18, 2024
On the surface, this is a pretty cute story about a bear that doesn't like visitors and a persistent mouse that wants to befriend Bear. However, from an adults perspective, it had some creepy undertones. Bear had some pretty set boundaries and what this book was basically depicting and encouraging was a mouse ignoring those boundaries, lying, and breaking and entering into Bear's property repeatedly. It is cute when it is a Bear and a Mouse, but if we were using this to teach our kids how to be treated in life it would definitely be a book I wouldn't want to influence them in any way. If you read this to your kids, you should probably have a conversation about personal boundaries afterwards.
January 2, 2015
This is a really fun book to read aloud and shows the meaning of friendship and the goodness of having company. The author never explains how the mouse keeps finding his way back into the house (as mice often do), but our girls are convinced it is magic. I thought for awhile that it was just going to be a bunch of look-alike mice who were all hiding in bear's house, but it was not so.
For some reason, I thought it was appropriate to read Mouse's part with a British accent. Perhaps it was the request for tea that made me think so. In any case, we really enjoyed this story!
For some reason, I thought it was appropriate to read Mouse's part with a British accent. Perhaps it was the request for tea that made me think so. In any case, we really enjoyed this story!
November 17, 2012
My mom heard about this book from a co-worker, and she suggested that I read this to my nephew. He does like his superhero, action/adventure, transformers books, but he also likes gentle stories like A Visitor for Bear. He appreciated Bear's desire to not have visitors (sometimes the boy is a little on the anti-social side), but then he appreciated Bear's realization that sometimes having others around can be kind of cool. Nice pre-schooler/kindergartner fare; subtle pictures, straightforward story, really expressive and varied vocabulary!
May 23, 2008
Our oldest LOVES this book, and the more I read it the more I like it too. Bear has a "no visitors" sign posted and is invaded by a small mouse who refuses to go away until Bear invites him for tea and realizes that he really does like having a friend. It's sweet.
There's a refrain that our little reader loves to repeat: the mouse is always "small and gray and bright-eyed."
The illustrations are just wonderful, with little touches like a bee-print tablecloth.
There's a refrain that our little reader loves to repeat: the mouse is always "small and gray and bright-eyed."
The illustrations are just wonderful, with little touches like a bee-print tablecloth.
February 6, 2013
This is like the bazooka in my arsenal. Whenever I need a picture book for storytime, I can always ask "Have I read A Visitor for Bear, yet?" If not, I have a guaranteed winner. If I have read it, I move on to Sniffles for Bear, Bedtime for Bear or Birthday for Bear. I just have to use a squeaky mouse voice and a growly bear voice and, boom.A fun story time.
August 2, 2018
Bear does not like visitors. But Mouse will not leave him be. Everything turns out ok and they do wind up being friends. This story kind of annoyed me because I really hate it when someone wants something from me, I tell them no, and they won't drop it and keep needling and pushing me. Who does like that, though? I know the lesson is supposed to be to give other people a chance, though.
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