Rainbow bear

by Stephen Michael King

"Bear returns home from the city with gifts for everyone. But what happens when Bear wakes up the next morning looking a little different?"-

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Picture Book

First published October 1, 2018

About the author

Stephen Michael King has illustrated, written, and designed many books for children, including The Duck and the Darklings by Glenda Millard. He lives in Australia.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rainbow Bear” is another highly imaginative fantasy picture book by Stephen Michael King in which he celebrates joyous relationships found within families, in this case, that between fathers and their children. The book also celebrates the joy afforded through engaging in the simple artistic pursuits of drawing and painting which Stephen so obviously enjoys and promotes. Stephen’s illustration style is instantly recognisable with his use of simple line drawings, playful squiggles and vibrant watercolours. The characters are also unmistakeable with the main characters being a family of bears. Dotted throughout the journey and city scenes are other animal motifs commonly found in Stephen’s previous picture books including: giraffes, turtles and birds along with a delightful myriad of mice and piglets.

“Rainbow Bear” - a handsome white “polar?” bear - returns home from a journey to the city, filled with news of exotic places and laden with much-anticipated gifts for his wife and adoring offspring. In the days following his return to his wonderful “land of ice and snow”, Rainbow Bear indulges his exuberant young cubs as they engage in playful pranks on their father.

Rainbow Bear’s simple outline provides a blank canvas for his mischievous young cubs to experiment with the crayons, brushes and paints he has given them. In doing so, he gently encourages their imaginations and creativity. His willingness to playfully indulge their efforts and the vibrancy of the designs they produce underlines the jubilant freedom of expression fostered in a loving family environment.

I highly recommend this latest picture book - another gem from Stephen Michael King!

[Kathy Ferrari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another superb gift to young readers and all those who love the world of imagination and creativity that picture books create. Who would not want to enter this beautiful world of ice and snow, diving deep into the blue ocean, blowing bubbles and turning somersaults? Or travelling the colourful streets where giraffes in sunglasses scooter alongside suit-clad pigs and a satchel-wearing polar bear buys a bunch of roses for his wife from a lovely mouse in a yellow dress?

Stephen Michael King has managed to capture so much in this deceptively simple lyrical tale of a beautiful family of polar bears, who love spending time with each other, appreciating the simple things and enjoying a little mischief.

As always the illustrations in this picture book are a true delight - a real celebration of joy, love and diversity, created in King’s typical pencil, ink and watercolour style.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always eagerly await a new book from Stephen Michael King and this one is just as wonderful as all of his others. Get lost in the world of your imagination in this most beautifully illustrated picture book where anything magical can happen as animals who live in cold snowy places play, have fun and live peacefully together no matter where they are from. The Polar Bear family playfully adorning themselves in all the colours of the rainbow captures pure joy and makes you smile the whole time you are reading.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about the wonders of family, as well as the wonder of the world. I think kids will solve the mystery of the Rainbow Bear pretty swiftly, but that doesn't alter the enjoyment of this gentle story. If only every child had an earthly father like this one - many are not that fortunate.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainbow Bear is quirky out of the box picture book about good old fashioned family fun, with a couple of cheeky antics thrown in and bucketloads of imagination and colour for good measure.

Ultimately Rainbow Bear is about quality family time and how sometimes it's the small moments that mean the most. The coloured markers and paint were a small gesture but turned into a family favourite activity that brought the family together and created endless hours of fun and mischief.

The narrative might be relatively simple within Rainbow Bear, but Stephen Michael King's illustrations are magical. With pages upon pages of bold colour and snippets of crazy imagination everywhere, this book is an absolute delight to read. His characters are fun and quirky, the 'painted' shapes and patterns on the bears contrast brilliantly with the white space of their fur and the ice. It's really just a magical experience of creativity, inspiration and imagination.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of fun and good old family antics.

This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf on 18th August 2019 and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-1Ni

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful tale of a family of polar bears - father comes home with gifts including colouring pencils for the two cubs. Each night as he sleeps, father bear is transformed with myriad colours and pretends to be clueless as to how this happens as he dives into the blue ocean to wash himself. King's ability to capture movement is masterful - just love mother bear wriggling her bottom :-)
The design of this books is superb with the polar bears and white space used to effect to contrast the rainbow colours and the changing hues of the ocean as bear washes off the night's artwork. The finale epitomises a loving family. Beware -the end papers beg to be coloured in.
Shortlisted 2019 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood

[Layla Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing I definitely recommend it. It's about a Polar bear coming back from a trip with some Crayons. He showed his kids. The kids were amazed So every night the young playful kids drew on the polar bear. The Polar bear wasn't mad he just washed it off in the water. One morning he woke up and realised it was his kids. He Tickled his kids until they revealed the truth. "We coloured you in can we colour you in one more time. At night bears family were sleeping so he coloured them in. When morning came the bears woke up all colourful. All day the polar bears drew and coloured on each other. then at the end of the day they washed off and went to bed. This book is a great book for kids and would give it a five star rating

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun picture book about a Daddy polar bear who goes to bed each night looking white (after his swim) but wakes up each morning in a variety of colours (thanks to his paint-armed cubs!). A lovely book with many different patterned-bears.

The only mild irk to me is that the penguins, orcas, and humpback whales are all found around the South Pole but polar bears are found at the North Pole!

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[AD · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about a busy father bear, and his happy and playful reunion with his children after a trip away. The colours used in the illustrations are bright and magical, and the story is a heart-warming reminder about the importance of family and spending time together.

[Dianne Wolfer]

Beautiful

[Pikachu · Rating 5 out of 5]

very fun

[Igor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entendo que seja um livro infantil e que mostre um mundo encantado e imaginário, mas fogueira no ártico, sobre um iceberg, foi demais.

Legal o incentivo à pintura, e o livro é bonito também.

[Jayarna ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute, with colourful, interesting pictures. The words do not tell the whole story - you need the pictures too - which means you have a book that helps with building literacy and comprehension skills.

Also opportunity for some cute craft to match.

[Rhyllis Bignell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read-aloud for youngsters. When father bear returns to his family after his journey to the city he shares little presents with his family. Each morning after sleeping he awakes to find his white fur covered in colourful spots, stripes and patterns. What's happening?

Bright, fun story and creative colours.