Home Before Dark (Hippo Puzzles) - Softcover

Ian-beck

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0590199188 ISBN 13: 9780590199186

Publisher: Scholastic Hippo, 1999

Synopsis

Home Before Dark (Picture Books)

About this title

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1-Lily won't go anywhere without her beloved Teddy. Even on a windy day in the park, she takes him along for the ride. When she falls asleep in her stroller on the way home and loses her grip on him, the little bear slips to the ground and is left behind. Although frightened, he knows that he must "-get home to Lily before dark." During his arduous journey, he is splashed, bashed, bumped, and even sniffed by a dog. However, the plucky bear continues, making his way up steep hills and against the wind to get home to Lily. When he finally makes it to the front door, no one hears his knocks and it appears that all is lost. Luckily, the paperboy arrives, delivering him through the mail slot, just in time for bed. This is a sweet, simple story with a happy ending; however, the delivery is a bit awkward and not particularly original. The illustrations are large and the colors bright, and the two-page spreads in the park and on the street are effectively dramatic. With so many titles with a similar theme, such as Martin Waddell's Small Bear Lost (Candlewick, 1998), Michaela Morgan's Edward Loses His Teddy Bear (Dutton, 1988; o.p.), and Jane Hissey's Little Bear Lost (Sandvik, 1994), this one is strictly additional.-Piper L. Nyman, Fairfield/Suisun Community Library, Fairfield, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

A fantasy about a lost teddy bear, this tale founders on its gaps in narrative logic. Lily and her mother are in the park when her mother says it's time to leave: "It looks like it's going to rain, and we must get home before dark." Lily falls asleep in her stroller and her teddy bear slips out of her arms, whereupon he comes to life (the why and wherefore of this transformation are not addressed) and feels the pressure of the mother's words: "He had to go home to Lily before dark." The terrors of being out after dark appear legion: the ambulatory Teddy encounters killer cars, looming pedestrians and a monstrous-looking Scottie, all amid often-blinding rain and wind. The arduous journey resolves happily a paperboy slips him through the mail slot, and when last seen, the stuffed toy is snuggling with the joyful (but oblivious) Lily. Beck (The Teddy Robber) ratchets up the narrative's menacing mood with his deft use of chiaroscuro and vertiginous, cinematic angles. The whole outing, from the unresolved issue of Teddy as independent creature versus inanimate toy to the unquestioned fear of the dark, seems likelier to induce anxiety than to entertain children. Ages. 6 mos.-6 yrs.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Hippo
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590199188
• ISBN 13: 9780590199186
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32