Popcorn

Baby Bear

by Frank Asch

Sam Bear invites his friends to an impromptu Halloween party and asks them to bring a treat.

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Fiction, Food, Humor, Holiday

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Frank Asch is an American children's writer, best known for his Moonbear picture books.

Asch published his first picture book, George's Store, in 1968. The following year he graduated from Cooper Union with a BFA. Since then he has taught at a public school in India, as well as at a Montessori school in the United States, conducted numerous creative workshops for children. He has written over 60 books, including Turtle Tale, Mooncake, I Can Blink and Happy Birthday Moon. In 1989 he wrote Here Comes the Cat! in collaboration with Vladimir Vagin. The book was awarded the Russian National Book Award and was considered the first Russian-American collaboration on a children's book.

Asch lived in Somerville, New Jersey where he and his wife home-schooled their son Devin.

He currently lives in Vermont with his wife, Jan.

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline is cute and funny, but I just can't get past that Sam's Halloween costume is the most simplistic caricature of a Native American's "traditional outfit" - tribal headband with feather and a loincloth. The book was published in 1979, so I get why, but I can't in good conscience recommend it for sharing with your kids in 2016.

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites growing up! Reading it now, years and years later, I found myself seeking out the same things that I loved when I was a kid. The popcorn spilling from the chimney, the characters faces upon eating so much popcorn, and the moment when the parents reveal their surprise for Sam. Still wonderful all these years later!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story behind why I adore this book. So the doctors office I went to as a child had this book in the waiting room and EVERY time I went to the doctor's office, I HAD to read this. I even read it as I got too old to read these sorts of books. Then one visit, it was gone! And I was devastated! Years went by and one day my mom found it at a garage sale and bought it for me. SO EXCITED! Great story!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

All 3 of my kids love this book!

[Camille Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid, and now my kids have started bringing it to me every day to read again to them. It's such a cute, fun Halloween story.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book with the most adorable, fun animal characters. I laughed way too hard at the plot, and I love the fact that the author enables kids to use their wildest imaginations (such a literal stage!). I also love the idea of creating board books that are easy for little ones to handle. I think I've found a new favorite children's book author, all thanks to my local library!

[Alex Konieczny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the ultimate hangover parable.
"I would eat popcorn like in this book." -Ryan

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a great story, but in 2017 we now recognize that many of the costumes are racist.

[Rebecca Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Bear had no idea what would "pop-up" when he invited his pals over for a costume party on Halloween night. Mama and Papa Bear have left him alone to attend their own party and he has the whole house to himself, what could go wrong? A simple request of his pals to “bring a treat” turns into a hilarious coincidence and comedy of errors. Will Sam’s Halloween be ruined? Will his parents come home to a frightful mess? Author of over eighty children’s books, Frank Asch crafts a charming Hallows Eve tale in Popcorn (Parent's Magazine Press, 1979). Popcorn is a longer beginning reader (40 pages) with a large typeface and is appropriate for ages 3-8 years old. Parents, educators, and librarians will appreciate the hilariously relevant message that sometimes less is more. With colorful, easy to follow illustrations and a funny premise, Popcorn is sure to leave you satisfied.

[Ms. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

My go to Halloween story. With similar endings, it reminds me of Strega Nona. Even though, I am giving this 5 stars for nostalgic reasons; it is dated. Some of the costumes reinforce incorrect stereotypes (i.e. Sam's costume of an Indian on the front cover).

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that the popcorn fills the whole house and then he doesn't care if he ever sees another popcorn in his whole life. And then his mom and dad came home and brought him a present. And it was popcorn!

[Gael Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember reading this book when I was younger and enjoying it. Read it today and agree with my younger self wholeheartedly. I just wish,... it had aged better. Hopefully the little bear is Native American and just wants to dress up as a chief in the spirit of Halloween. 🤞

[Marcia Van Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a kid and even though it’s a simple story it really captures my imagination. So happy to share it with my kids!

[Janet Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My toddler LOVES to read this over and over and over again. It was my husband’s favorite book when he was a kid too.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reissue revises the pictures. Bear’s costume is no longer a Native American caricature, which is cool. Now he’s a pirate, which is great. Rowan loves that he’s a pirate. And he finds this book very funny. So we have a great time.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kayden said this was "cheeky".

[Arantzazú · Rating 1 out of 5]

This old "classic" story is slated to be reissued as a board book by Simon & Schuster on July 25th, 2017. I can't say I'm surprised they'd do something so monumentally stupid, especially after the whole awful Yiannopoulos debacle.

The book, as you can see by the cover, depicts a bear dressing up in a costume... which is actually just a stereotyped representation of Native Americans. I thought everyone knew this by now, but I guess S&S needs to hear it again: Native Americans are NOT COSTUMES.

It's 2017, folks. Just 'cause it's a "classic" doesn't make it still good.

[Malia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across this book while on a project looking for books with offensive content, and then it made me sad because I immediately remembered reading and loving it when I was a kid. The story is still SO GREAT and funny, so 5 stars for that and 1 star for the costume.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this over and over again when we were kids. I love the charming illustrations, and the story was the height of humor to 3-6 year olds.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was one of my favorite books as a child. i have such fond memories of reading this with my mother and brother. it is also probably to blame for my current obsession with popcorn.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely cute and very absurd story of a party gone wrong. First of all, this is my first time reading a Frank Asch Bear Book, so I don't know if this is a good representation of the series or not, but I certainly really enjoyed myself!

Sam has a Halloween party, invites all his friends, and everyone brings popcorn as a snack. I misunderstood at first, because everyone had these little bags of popcorn and I thought it was fully popped. It wasn't until they toss all their offerings into the pot that the kernels pop into a big popcorny mess!

As a kid, I would have loved a house full of popcorn and I would have loved this book! A real cute read!

[Angie Fehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, interesting twist that the PARENTS go out for Halloween and leave little baby bear to his own devices, expecting him to behave. Of all nights to ditch the kids lol... what do you THINK happened? :-P Yep, little bear immediately gets to organizing a raver at his house. Great party, only problem is EVERY. SINGLE. GUEST. brought popcorn. What is one to do but to try to eat it all before the parentals get back!

[Faith Wareham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm honestly not too sure what the message in this story is supposed to be, but it is cute. It might have something to do with not biting off more than you can chew, considering the bears in the story decided to pop multiple bags of popcorn without realizing that it would fill up their entire house. The characters are very cute and it is a quick read, but I've always liked it and loved to read it again and again as a kid.

[Mort's Kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real retro feeling book, which you can tell from the first page when the parents just leave the kid home to go to their own Halloween party. Who does that these days?

Needless to say, hilarity ensues!

The premise and comeuppance is cliché at this point but still enjoyable. There's a bit of cultural appropriation that doesn't age well, but it's not central to the story. I don't know if I'll come back to this one regularly but nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in elementary school, in the 90s. It was bought at a garage sale with a ton of other books. I love popcorn and think this book perfectly answers the “what if” about cooking too much popcorn! I only took off one star cause of the stereotypical indigenous costume on the cover. Anyways, if you like this, check out a book called The Royal Mess, which pays homage to this book with the popcorn overflow

[NeuroDicey HomeschoolLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, the indigenous costume is in poor taste (when you know better, do better and all that), but that aside Popcorn is a personal family fave. Little ones find it hilarious when the popcorn starts to fill the house, and they always love the ending. Easily up there with classics like The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear. We've been reading this to our son since he was 2, and he still loves it at book time at 8.

[Amar Pai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asha brought this home from school. When we were reading it and we got to the first page that's "all popcorn," nostalgia hit me like a ton of bricks. I totally remember this from when I was a kid! Props to the memorable visuals. They evoked something still. The story is not mind blowing but the book is funny and the illustrations hold up.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

When every guest brings popcorn to Baby Bear's Halloween party, the crunchy snack quickly takes over the entire house. The story itself is timeless and cute, but has others have already pointed out, the main character's "Native American" costume hasn't aged well. Perhaps the illustrations could be revised and the book re-published for modern audiences.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

When mama and papa bear go to a Halloween party leaving Sam home alone, Sam decides to invite his friends over for a party. Each party goer brings popcorn to share. They decide to pop all of it at once and it fills the whole house. They have to eat their way through it before Sam’s parents get home.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best kids books ever! I didn't even remember this being Halloween based but as an adult I made it part of my son's special Halloween books. All I remember was the popcorn! And how hungry it always made me. Frankly I thought the main character was lucky to have so much! Love the art work too; so nostalgic.