Bear's Bargain

Moonbear #7

by Frank Asch

Bear wishes he could fly like Little Bird, while Little Bird longs to be big and strong like Bear.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, School, Animals, Friendship, Birds

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 1985

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

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Bear series that we've read by Mr. Asch. I would say it's the best of the three. It shows how you can attain your "impossible" dreams if you show some determination, tap into your creativity and use your imagination. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear wishes he could fly like Little Bird. Little Bird wants to be big and strong, like Bear. So the two friends make an agreement: Bear will show Little Bird how to be big and Little Bird will show Bear how to fly.

Although Bear and Little Bird each get their wish, it isn’t quite in the way they expected. Young readers will enjoy seeing how the two friends work together and how they each get their wish. Love and friendship lie at the heart of this tender tale, a gentle fable for young readers on the joy of having friends, of working together to accomplish something, of keeping a promise. Creativity, imagination, and inventiveness take center stage in this delightfully charming tale.

Highly recommended.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a deal, such a bargain!

* Moonbear (a bear) agrees to teach Little Bird (a bird) how to be big and strong.
* And Little Bird agrees to teach Moonbear how to fly!
* What could possibly go wrong?

Moonbear's method for keeping up his end of the deal was perfect... at least when appealing to the logic of a child of picture book age.

While Little Bird was clearly smarter than he looked (to me, at least). Little Bird's method for teaching the huge bear how to fly was EXACTLY as child-sized clever as what Moonbear had done to hold up his end of the bargain.

FUNNY AND SWEET

Of course this book with words and pictures by Frank Asch deserves FIVE STARS. Adorable!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Bear wants to learn how to fly. Little Bird says he’ll teach Bear to fly if Bear will teach Bird to be big. Through creative problem solving, Bear does indeed make Little Bird big and Little Bird helps Bear to fly.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I like to fly kites. I also enjoyed this book because I like birds.

[Yamile Méndez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahaha! My little guy and I laughed and laughed with this funny little book. The illustrations are brilliant.

[Grandma M · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better Bear books. Could read for Halloween and kit flying (yeah right).

[Rick Christiansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old school

[Jeani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable problem-solving and cooperation!

[Josephina · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was so cute but dont want any more spoiler allerts.

[Tony Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Bear's Bargain
Author: Frank Asch
Illustrator: Frank Asch
Publisher: Scholastic Books
Publishing Date: 1985
ISBN Number: 0-590-45392-0

Summary: This book is about a bear who wants to learn how to fly like his friend litle bird. Little bird wants to learn how to grow big like bear. Bear devises a plan where he grows a pumpkin and while it is still littl he carves a picture of little bird on it. Little bird has bear buy all the things for a kite and draws a picture of bear on it. They both get there wish although it is not quite the same as they had originally envisioned.

Age Level: 4-8

Instructional Uses and Student Activities: The story talks about compromise and ingenuity. The class could decide how each was able to help one another achieve a compromise to the others problem. The teacher could set up similar scenarios involving the same set of criteria and allow the class to break into groups to present a solution. Writing and reading about how people do this everyday would enlighten the children to think beyond everyday solutions and predict how the feelings that bear and bird felt can show up in their own lives.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this because I saw some of Asch's books at the library and remembered how much I loved "Mooncake" as a child. This one is cute all about imagination and determination. How will Little Bear be able to fly--and how will a full-grown bird be able to get any bigger? Their solution is surprising and creative.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

People are giving this book sort of opaque, languid reviews. This is a five star children's book, which is part of a five star series, which is by a five star author: Mr. Frank Asch. I love this book especially because it is truly made for a child. This book is love, and I love sharing it with my son and daughter.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a fun premise - bear wishes he could fly like little bird, and little bird wishes to be big and strong like bear.

They agree to help each other reach their goals.

I love the creative solutions they find for success.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bear wants to fly. Little Bird wants to learn how to be big. They help each other in unusual ways. The illustration was along the lines if I were to draw a children's book. The story was good, too bad the pictures were distracting (like the fact that Bear has five fingers like a human...weird)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear teaches Bird how to be big, bird teaches bear how to fly. Very quaint.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

My primary kids can't get enough of Bear and Little Bird!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bird wants to grow, and Bear wants to fly. They help each other come closer to their goals by being inventive.

[Little Champs]

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