(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Mouse doesn't realize that his new house is already inhabited by a bear, a crocodile, and a tiger, all of whom insist there's no room for the tiny newcomer. Mouse, undeterred, starts to unpack--then another creature upends his plans. The tale is slight but mildly entertaining, with details to follow throughout the varied illustrations and a visual surprise at the end.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Bear and Mouse wander, visiting with forest friends until a sudden storm sends them all scurrying to Bear's cave. Throughout the narrative, pairs of simple opposites accumulate like a nursery song and encourage reading aloud. The content is slight, but bouncy rhymes and acrylic illustrations add warmth and good cheer as the familiar characters (Bear Counts; Bear Sees Colors; etc.) introduce this basic lesson.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Bear and Mouse count from one (sun, dragonfly) to five (ducks, crawdads) as they walk through the forest (Counts). In Colors, Bear and Mouse's woodland animal friends point out five different color-drenched scenes. Both books feature jaunty rhyming texts and inviting acrylic paintings that encourage preschoolers to join the fun. The content is slight, but the presentation and familiar characters are engaging. Review covers these titles: Bear Counts and Bear Sees Colors.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Friends Big, a bear, and Small, a mouse, play outside, with Big primarily helping Small as he stubs a toe, crosses a stream, and encounters other challenges ("'A little help please!' calls Small"). But at bedtime, roles are reversed: Big needs a hug from Small. Playfully dynamic oversize fonts meander across the pages in a cute rhyming friendship story with colorful, emotive illustrations.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. The animals on Noah's ark have trouble sleeping with a storm raging, so they, one pair at a time, join Noah in his bed. When the skunks spray the whole bunch, they return to their straw and Noah sings them to sleep. The book adds little new to the familiar story or the bedtime-book genre, but both the rhymes and illustrations are pleasant.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Bear and Mouse count from one (sun, dragonfly) to five (ducks, crawdads) as they walk through the forest (Counts). In Colors, Bear and Mouse's woodland animal friends point out five different color-drenched scenes. Both books feature jaunty rhyming texts and inviting acrylic paintings that encourage preschoolers to join the fun. The content is slight, but the presentation and familiar characters are engaging. Review covers these titles: Bear Counts and Bear Sees Colors.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Bear's woodland friends all stop by with yummy treats to share. Bear's cupboards are empty, so he can't contribute to the meal, but his friends remind him he can share something else: his stories. Though Wilson's rhyme and rhythm occasionally miss the mark, Chapman's familiar illustrations, Bear's thankful refrain, and the alternate way he adds to the feast will please fans of the series.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. The horrible Snorklum monster is on his way home, late, as evening falls. He can't resist stopping to catch every animal he meets, to eat later for dinner. Energetic illustrations grow darker as time passes--but the animals grow bolder since they've heard that after sunset the Snorklum shrivels. With a satisfying "Pooffft!" the story ends and the animals escape.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. When nervous Bear discovers his first loose tooth, his friends try (gently) to extract the wobbly bicuspid. In the end, it's Bear's own wiggling tongue that does the job. The text has some minor missteps in cadence. Chapman's illustrations include cute details, including a tooth fairy that leaves blueberries as payment.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. A little owl who lives alone finds comfort in telling himself imaginative stories. When his daydreams spur him to travel the world, he encounters a group of snooty owls and quickly figures out how to win them over. Lack of conflict makes for an underwhelming read. The accompanying illustrations are enlivened by vivid hues and Owl's emotive, eager facial expressions.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. On a stormy night, while Bear snoozes soundly, Mouse and a few other forest animals congregate in Bear's den for shelter. Soon they're eating popcorn, drinking tea, and having a party while "the bear snores on." The rhyming text is forced at times, but the vibrant acrylic paintings are engaging. This paper-over-board edition is notable for its bargain price.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Penguin Little Pip awaits the arrival of a sibling. She resents the attention her parents pay the egg, but she still helps protect it through winter's storms. When her brother hatches, Pip sings that he "makes our family just right." Though the text is message-y, Little Pip's story is gently reassuring. A palette of golds, blues, and purples captures the Antarctic's seasons.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Eager to avoid her first swimming lesson in "the cold, dark sea," penguin Pip decides she'd rather learn how to fly. After two failed attempts at soaring through the sky, Pip accidentally lands in the water where a new friend shows her the glories of gliding. Chapman's illustrations showcase the ocean milieu. Occasional singsongy verses enliven the bland text.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. This companion to Mommy Mine pays similar homage to fathers. This time, animal dads display their variety of attributes: "Daddy spiky / Daddy fluffy / Daddy dirty / Daddy scruffy." The simple rhyming text is just right for preschoolers. On every double-page spread (some are situated vertically), there's enough white space in the backgrounds to make the vibrant animals stand out.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Bear, out looking for a snack, gets lost on the way home. His friends, worried by his absence, form a search party, go out into the stormy night, and find him only ten feet from his den. Storm-swept illustrations and the refrain "the bear feels scared" contribute to the story's tension, while Bear's fans will be reassured by the familiar characters and format.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. While chasing a shiny black feather, penguin Little Pip becomes lost. Trying to return home, she meets a whale, a kelp gull, and sled dogs. In an underwhelming ending, Pip sings her family's song, then Mama and Papa find her and teach her that home is where your family is. Acrylic illustrations animate the anthropomorphized animals' emotions.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. When Bear is sick, his friends nurse him back to health. Then, just as he gets better, they all come down with his cold. The rhymes are pedestrian, but Wilson's title-as-refrain ("And the bear feels sick") and Chapman's expressive illustrations strengthen this installment describing the forest friends' latest adventure. Bear's fans will not be disappointed.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Brief, well-chosen rhyming phrases describe a wide array of animal mothers in this amusing book with a pleasing design. "Mommy snoozing, Mommy lazy / clumsy Mommy--whoopsy-daisy!" appears on a double-page spread with a painting of a seal dozing and a penguin slipping on the ice. With its variations in size, color, and placement, the typeface complements the spacious illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. In this simple natural history lesson on the tiger's physical characteristics and life cycle, handsome paintings and a dual track text highlight typical experiences of a tigress and her two cubs. Rich imagery fills the narrative describing the protective and hunting behavior of the mother and the playfulness and growth of her offspring. Simple nonfiction and good read-aloud fare.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2004

(3) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Bear struggles to stay awake on Christmas Eve as he and his friends hunt for a tree, decorate it, and hang stockings. When the others nod off, Bear gets busy making and wrapping presents for everyone. The appealing illustrations, the smooth rhyme, and the catchy refrain of "the bear stays up" make this a satisfying addition to Wilson's other Bear books.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley