Big Brown Bear's Birthday Surprise - Hardcover

McPhail, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0152060987 ISBN 13: 9780152060985

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2007

Synopsis

To celebrate Big Brown Bear's special day, his friend Rat has planned a lovely picnic on the riverbank. All is going swimmingly, complete with cucumber sandwiches, warm sunshine, and even a surprise gift from Rat. 
           
But when Big Brown Bear is suddenly distracted by an empty boat floating past on the river, Rat's plans for the afternoon take a watery turn. 
           
David McPhail throws Big Brown Bear a birthday party like no other in this warmhearted picture book that serves up action, excitement, and a generous portion of true good-natured friendship.

About this title

About the Author

DAVID McPHAIL is the creator of dozens of wonderful books, including Big Brown Bear's Up and Down Day, Sisters, and Mole Music, a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year. He lives in New Hampshire. www.davidmcphail.com

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2—McPhail's illustrations are as sweet and whimsical as ever in this endearing story of friendship. During a picnic on the riverbank, Rat informs Bear that it's a special day; Rat has remembered Bear's birthday even though Bear has not. Rat even has a surprise present for his pal, something that "has four letters and begins with a B." Just then, a boat floats down the river, and Bear jumps aboard, assuming that it is his gift. Rat joins him, explaining that the boat is not for Bear, and they row upstream, looking for its owner. After a brief adventure, they return to the picnic basket, and Rat gives Bear his gift, a ball that he happily balances on his nose. This picture book is divided into four brief chapters. The story reads aloud smoothly and the vocabulary is appropriate for beginning readers with some experience. The pen-and-ink and watercolor paintings are saturated with warm summer hues and support the quiet text with humor and élan. The affection shared by the two friends is conveyed through both the narrative and the artwork.—June Wolfe, Bushnell-Sage Library, Sheffield, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Big Brown Bear forgets his birthday comes on the same day every year, but his friend Rat has not forgotten the special day. Their picnic by a river is interrupted by a rowboat that "must've gotten loose and drifted downstream." Bear and Rat hop in and, after retrieving a hat and a fishing pole from the water, retrieve the fisherman, too. A birthday present and a birthday cake end the eventful day. McPhail divides this very simple story into four chapters, each containing a mild surprise. Much of the story is told in dialogue that will benefit from dramatic reading aloud. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations in this slightly oversize picture book have a restful palette, and the rounded shapes of the bucolic setting mirror the shape of Big Brown Bear. Vocabulary such as adjusting and emerging may challenge children reading independently, but the lazy pleasantness of Bear and Rat's day will be a welcome respite for busy readers. Janice Del Negro
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0152060987
• ISBN 13: 9780152060985
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: O'Connor John
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32