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Berenstain, Jan
5 Reviews
(4)
K-3
The Berenstain Bear family is visiting Gramps and Gran for Christmas. The narrative paints a warm, nostalgic picture of the holiday, with caroling, tree trimming, cooking and baking, and more. Five pages with song lyrics and craft ideas interrupt the narrative throughout. The familiar illustrations bring the characters and purposeful story to life.
Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff
(4)
K-3
In search of exciting things to write about in his new journal, an exuberant penguin wanders about the Antarctic, oblivious to his inadvertent foiling of attacks by wolves, bears, whales, and a walrus. The rhyming text is clunky, and word choice is lackluster. What saves this story is the simultaneous humor and danger communicated in the expressive cartoon illustrations.
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter
(4)
K-3
With Mike Berenstain. "Goldibear and the Three People," "The Gingerbread Bear," and "Little Red Grizzly Hood" are among the six stories retold (most with bear-centric modifications) by Mrs. Grizzle, the Berenstain cubs' babysitter. Brother's and Sister's interjections are often as disruptive as they are entertaining, but the classic stories can't be completely derailed. Naturally, the Berenstains' trademark cartoony art illustrates the stories.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(3)
K-3
One of the Berenstains' early easy readers featuring the Bear family is back in print. Affable but incredibly clumsy Pop tries to show his son how to use his new winter sports equipment, eventually advising his son to do as he says, not as he does. No long drawn-out moral tale here--just a simple, rhyming text and slapstick action that are just right for the audience.
Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander
(2)
4-6
Walking on the sunny side of their autobiographical street, the Berenstains stress the positives in their lives, tempering the negatives with humor, and enlivening it all with peppy cartoons in a successful application of signature style to life. Numerous reproductions of their early art showcase the Berenstains' growth as individual artists. Children's literature professionals, as well as fans, will find much here of interest and value. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2003
5 reviews
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