Children’s Book Review: ‘A Library Book for Bear’

Children’s Book Review: ‘A Library Book for Bear’
Bonny Becker’s children’s book, “A Library Book for Bear,” published by Candlewick Press

July 10, 2014, Epoch Times

Bonny Becker’s children’s book, “A Library Book for Bear,” published by Candlewick Press
Bonny Becker’s children’s book, “A Library Book for Bear,” published by Candlewick Press

The only thing more perfect than author Bonny Becker’s latest children’s book, “A Library Book for Bear,” is publisher Candlewick Press’s timing of its release—right in the heart of summer reading season.

Author Bonny Becker and illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton have done it again in their fifth charming and hilarious picture book featuring the chipper and optimistic little Mouse and his reluctant, set-in-his-ways friend Bear.

This time around, Mouse enthusiastically cajoles the trepidatious Bear to the “big” library, even though he has all the books he needs.

Bear finds the voluminous library “excessive” and “extravagant,” but Mouse does his best to find him the perfect book, preferably one about pickles.

Will Mouse be able to endear Bear to all the wonders of the library or will Bear stubbornly go home empty-handed?

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Melding the perfect combination of comic relief with themes of friendship and personality differences, “A Library Book for Bear” hits all the right notes as a read-aloud to share with children of any age.

If you haven’t enjoyed Bear and Mouse’s previous adventures—”A Visitor for Bear,” “A Birthday for Bear,” “A Bedtime for Bear,” and “The Sniffles for Bear,” you’ve missed some of the best and most entertaining picture books to be released in recent years.

“A Library Book for Bear” lives up to the standard of its predecessors, as its superb wit and endearing message will both delight and melt the hearts of its readers.

Just when parents are wondering what to read next, and just when many parents and children are celebrating all the wonders of the library, “A Library Book for Bear” hits bookstore shelves on July 22. Brilliant.