More Bears!

by Kenn Nesbitt, Troy Cummings (Illustrator)

Once upon a time there was a story. It was a lovely story with absolutely NO BEARS in it―not a SINGLE BEAR anywhere.
Then one day...MORE BEARS!
KENN NESBITT is possibly the funniest and most sought-after children's poet writing today. When he's not writing, podcasting, updating his website (poetry4kids.com), or visiting schools sharing his wacky brand of humor with kids across America, Kenn can be found cuddling his collection of stuffed bears. He seriously cannot get enough of bears. Or chickens.
TROY CUMMINGS has been drawing goofy animals pretty much nonstop since kindergarten. His illustrations have appeared in newspapers, in magazines, on websites, on frozen fish stick packages, and in hospital waiting rooms. He hibernates in Greencastle, Indiana, with his kids and cats.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Writing

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

Kenn Nesbitt is the author of several collections of funny poetry for kids, including Revenge of the Lunch Ladies, When the Teacher Isn't Looking, and The Aliens Have Landed at Our School! His poems have appeared many bestselling anthologies, including every book in the popular Kids Pick the Funniest Poems series, and anthologies from Scholastic with nearly 2 million copies in print. He is also the creator of the world's most popular children's poetry website on the Internet.

Reviews

[Tamar...playing hooky for a few hours today · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for Kenn Nesbitt....This is super cute. Numbers and humor and beautiful illustrations.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children lend a hand to the creative process in this narrative which has no bears. The author is pestered by the demanding wishes of his audience to include their favourite animal. One bear is not enough, two bears is not enough, so more and more are added. Dialogue is split between pages, always cutting off and continuing on the turning page. The narrative is ever dragged forward to establish a pattern of expectation, one which will have children eagerly shouting out "more bears" before the next image is revealed. This could continue forever if a little variation was not introduced at the end. A child's initial disappointment will inevitably be replaced with giggles.

No "story" is ever written, at least not the one the author sets out to write. In fact, all of it is just a collection of introductions to each bear thought up. He attempts to please everyone by creating bears with different interests and backgrounds, all the while, the whole lot becomes a big, silly mess. It is such a mess that the author literally has to clean up his story. In some ways all that happens is reflective of the writing process, the creative voice wants to add more, until finally editing needs to cut things away to make the final, cleaned-up version.

Clever, and funny, "More Bears" will leave children wanting...well, more bears.

[Joann Aubain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! I feel it adapts to not only children but adults as well. The idea that the book is about an author deciding on how many bears to use in his book and that he's directly talking to the reader is very engaging. And the ending of the book definately took me by surprise and laughter. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good childrens book.

A learning experience I would do is have the children act out the story as I would be the author. The children would act out the different bear roles and pick up on counting as they hear their role called. This will engage the students with different concepts of counting, actions that the bears do in the book and voice modulation in yelling "More Bears!"

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A teacher on our staff adores Ken Nesbitt, shares his poetry all the time, and has been petitioning for him to visit our school for quite a while, so it was neat to finally see his work in print. I'd like to use this book in a lesson along with Interrupting Chicken, or in a lesson about the fourth wall.

I think the book is a four-star story, but the fantastic read-aloud nature of it bumps it up to five stars. Can't wait to share this with my class. The ending made me LOL.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest skits in Saturday Night Live history is the one in which Christopher Walken and Will Ferrell send up Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” and its excessive use of cowbell. “I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!”

Author Ken Nesbitt’s and illustrator Troy Cummings’ More Bears! reminds me of that iconic phrase. This picture begins: “Once upon a time there was a story. This story was a lovely story with absolutely no bears in it — not a single bear anywhere.”

Well, that cannot stand!

Anyone can see that, as with the cowbell, there will be a pure excess of bears before the story is done, but the ending will surprise and delight kids and their grownups alike. Well done, Messrs. Nesbitt and Cummings!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haha! This one's a nice one.

So chaotic and LITERALLY I kid you not, full of BEARS! Bears of all sizes and colors and activities even I, the reader, got overwhelmed!

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story within a story is basically about an author who's writing a story. A mysterious voice implores him to add more bears, and though he's resistant at first, he relents when he realizes that's what his audience wants. Soon, though, there are so many bears that it starts to cause issues, and the author ends up having to take drastic measures.

The story was cute and unexpected. I also enjoyed the illustrations and seeing all the goofy bears with their strange names.

Overall, this is a lighthearted and fun book. Those looking for books about writers and/or bears will probably like it.

Quotable moment:

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenn Nesbitt is a master storyteller for kids. If you’re familiar with his silly rhymes and wacky poetry, and even if you’re not, you’ll want to check out his newest book for the youngest readers, More Bears!
The book opens with an author writing a children’s book when he hears children’s voices call out to him to add more bears to the story. Resisting at first, he soon gets into the mood of adding more bears. Pretty soon he’s got bears doing everything from strumming ukuleles and surfing the waves to riding ponies.

Before you know it there are too many bears, and the author wants to expel them from his story. More Bears! is full of repetition, counting, colors, rhymes and so many things children will love to have read to them over and over. The good news is, parents won't get tired of obliging them. Illustrations, by Troy Cummings, are fun, and you and your child will enjoy matching each written-about bear to the drawing. The premise that children can influence what an author writes should be fun for kids to contemplate too. I highly recommend it for the littlest ones in your life and all the other little ones you know.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story starts off deceptively with “Once upon a time…” But just as it’s getting started the book is interrupted by a cry for “More bears!!” The main character, the author of the book, tries to get the story back on track, but the cries for “More bears!” continue. So, despite his better judgment, he adds one bear at a time, then three, then six, until the pages are crowded with bears of every size and shape. But then the book is simply too crowded, so the author shoos all the bears away. When all the bears are gone, he breathes a sigh of relief because he knows what this book needs…more chickens!

The whimsical illustrations are the perfect compliment to the 1st person text. These aren’t your every day bears, there’s Captain Picklehead, Uncle Sheldon (who plays the uke), surfing Excellent Steve, and more. The repetitive cry for, “More bears!” is usually placed right after a page turn. Once the kids figure out what’s going on, they will know exactly when to help out with shouts of “More bears!”

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute & my niece really loved reading out the "More Bears" line every few pages.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all cracked up at this book. It's a great book for practicing "r" sounds and words. Our speech therapist suggested this one, and it didn't disappoint. Even my almost 12 year old was cracking up.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

The children in storytime would have fun yelling "more bears" all of the time.

[Nathan Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty funny! I wonder what the writing process was like, and what sort of communication the author and illustrator had. It’s a nice touch that several bears are on multiple pages.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great, interactive read aloud!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darling illustrations and a key repetitive phrase makes this an ideal read-aloud, however the lack of a real story arc or plot twist creates a staleness to the overall pacing. While reading, I kept waiting for something to happen beyond the author's clever trick of saying "more bears." I felt disappointed when nothing further happened, but some children may be content with simply repeating phrases.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is NOT a toddler book--though the pictures may make them giggle. But preschoolers and older kids--especially those who can appreciate the "Duck Amok" factor this shares with Melanie Watts Chester will have a terrific time.

[Ms. Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for children who might be bored by more traditional story books. The book doesn't really have a story arc and is on the more sophisticated end of the children's story spectrum so I think it would work best with slightly older children (SK-Grade 2) rather than preschoolers. I can also see it appealing to fans of Mo Willems although I didn't like it quite as much.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Maybe more fun than you can bear!

-Monty K.-

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book exhausted me. The bears were cute, but I couldn't wait to finish as I was tired of all of the More Bears! every other page.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations that invite examination and conversation! Also, the audience participation prompt will keep kids interested. Might try for Saturday storytime!

[Cosette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny highly interactive book.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a man who is an author, narrating his experience of writing a story. In the background as the "author" is thinking, children shout "MORE BEARS!". The author did not want any bears in his story and tried to ignore the children, but they would not stop shouting "MORE BEARS!", approximately once on each page. Finally, the author agreed to include a bear in his story, but the children still would not stop shouting so the author continued to add more bears to his story until it became too much. The story ends with the author deciding he needs to rewrite his story, and right when you think the book is over, the book ends with children yelling "MORE CHICKENS!". The main character in this story was the author, who narrated the book. Other characters included the bears (who remained silent), and the children who yelled "MORE BEARS!", but were never shown in the book. Nesbitt, the actual author, did a really great job of using page turns in this story. Sentences often started on one page and continued on another, and I really liked how every time the children exclaimed for more bears, that text would be in a speech bubble that had a boundary from the text (showing there is space and the speech is separate from the "author's" thoughts). I did not have any dislikes about this book and really loved it! I would use this book in a first grade classroom to talk about the writing process and how to come up with ideas, especially when struggling to come up with ideas on your own. I would also encourage students to be open to writing about ideas different from theirs, even if they don't like the idea at first, just like the character author did in this book.

[Mehsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do we need? More bears! And lots of fourth wall breaking!

A pretty decent book, though I have to say the gimmick was over for me by the halfway mark of the book. I noticed I couldn't really give a care in the world about the new bears. Sure, I was a bit curious about what would be added, and if the author would finally stand up to the unknown shouters and say no.

And yes, that happened, at the end, and only because there were so many bears that the pages were overflowing with them and they started arguing. :P Not really a spoiler, you can see that the tension is slowly building up + that there are just too many bears around for them to have space.

The new bears were quite interesting, it was quite fun to see what the author created, he made the bears really come to life. With descriptions of colour, of what they do, a little titbit about them that made them special (like the one carrying a hamster). Yes, I still couldn't care about them, but I still was curious as to what the author would make now.

The art was pretty OK, not entirely my favourite style, but still OK.

The ending was a nice one, now I guess the author has to write about that. :P

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nesbitt, Kenn More Bears! illustrated by Troy Cummings. BOARD BOOK. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2017. $7.99

A children's book author is interrupted in his story creation by an unseen audience constantly asking for 'More bears!' to be added to the story. Answering the call, the author introduces a myriad of bears in all shapes and sizes until there are finally just too many to fit and they all leave. This gives the author opportunity to then introduce 'More chickens!'

This is a straight-up book of silly. There is no real story here, just a lot of silly fluff that younger readers will giggle at and enjoy for what it is. As an adult reader I was a little confused at first, but on a second go-round I could see how kids would find the interactions between the author and his audience as incredibly funny and enjoyable.

Pre-K, EL (K-3)--ADVISABLE. Reviewer: TC

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this will appeal as long as has the nonsense of Ogden Nash or Edward Lear. And in a sea of 'meta' picture-books, it does not stand out. Still, some will find it hilarious and enjoy it over and over again.

And I did like a bit near the end: "They walked off the page. They rode off the page. They swung, surfed, danced, climbed, ran, and even somersaulted off the page."

Purple prose much? Take out the 'even' and it's much stronger. I guess I can imagine myself enjoying that page every time a child asks for the book. And I suppose it could be a 'mentor text.'

But it's not poetry, so why is fuss made of Nesbitt as a poet? Oh, marketing to the librarians and other adults with the money to buy the book. Fine.

[Sarah A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely hilarious book for young and old. The book tells of an author writing a story in which there needs to be.....more Bears. The author listens to a voice telling him over and over that there needs to be...more Bears in the story until the final hilarious conclusion.
Very inspiring and good fun!

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book, the cute illustration and humorous narrator will make it an instant win with most preschool+ groups. It does get a little wordy, so for younger groups I might leave out just a few of the bear descriptions (there are so many) unless they seem really into it. I love that you can have the kids chant MORE BEARS along with you.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute children’s book with no bears! 🐻 Oh well, maybe the author will give in and add a beat 🐻 or two 🐻🐼 or three 🐻🐼🐨! Either way it’s a cute children’s book that can be read as it is or you can use the book as a tool for peer pressure! I love when you find a book (which if you look at most) have a true meaning underneath!

[Sam VanLoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story shows the process of writing and how sometimes ideas change and the story has to change too. Sometimes the author has to write what the readers want to read. This could be a mentor text to help students look at the writing process through a different lens.

Trait: Organization
ATOS: 3.5
Lex: AD640L

[Jared White · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a picture book...and I did not make it all the way through or finish it. It got too annoying and tedious. Maybe some adults and kids will like it but I did not.

At first, I thought it would be fun to, as you're reading aloud, have the audience shout "More bears!" but then it went on and on and on and I thought, "This isn't fun anymore."