Bears in a Band

January 1, 2016

PreS-Those cute young bears are back with another adventure. This time the mischievous cubs find musical instruments and begin to create all kinds of "music." Unfortunately, the noise they make is so loud and out of tune that they wake up Big Bear. Will he be upset? Will this troupe of budding musicians ever be able to play in harmony? This book is as charming as Parenteau's earlier bear books. This original story is sweet and perfect for preschool age children. The musical onomatopoeia, such as the bells that "ding-a-ding-ding" and the horn with its "tootley-tooo," make this a fun read-aloud. The entertaining rhyming text make it easy for older preschoolers to predict a word that may fit. While the size of the font is excellent for reading one-on-one or to a larger group, it does not dominate the page. The acrylic illustrations are straightforward and appealing. The soft pastel-like colors of the bears will capture and hold the attention of little ones. The artwork is large enough to show the bears' various emotions. A simple, but important, teachable lesson is incorporated-if we work together, good things can happen. VERDICT A must-have for most preschool collections.-Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
In this fifth title about the four small bears (Bears and a Birthday, etc.), they form an impromptu band ("Boompity boomp!"). Their music wakes up Big Bear ("Uh-oh!"), but he's not mad; he grabs a ladle as a baton and leads the band. Expressive pastel-colored acrylic illustrations and an exuberant rhyming text full of onomatopoeia will have preschoolers eagerly joining in.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)