There, There - Hardcover

McBratney, Sam

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763667021 ISBN 13: 9780763667023

Publisher: Templar, 2013

Synopsis

From Guess How Much I Love You author Sam McBratney comes this tender story of the special kind of soothing comfort that a hug can bring, setting everything just right again.

“There, there” — one of the most soothing expressions in the English language. In this story, Little Hansie Bear loves to pretend, but walking like a duck can be hazardous, especially when he falls into a deep- down ditch and has to be helped out by his dad. With a “There, there” and a hug, Hansie is soon off to play again. So when Dad hurts his foot, Hansie knows just what to do — a “There, there,” a big hug, and everything is all right again.

About this title

About the Author

Sam McBratney (1943−2020) is the author of the internationally best-selling classic Guess How Much I Love You and its sequel, Will You Be My Friend?, as well as All My Favorites, all illustrated by Anita Jeram. He also wrote Just You and Me and There, There, both illustrated by Ivan Bates, and Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See, illustrated by Linda Ólafsdóttir, among many other books for children.

Ivan Bates studied illustration at Manchester Polytechnic and has illustrated many books for children, including Just You and Me by Sam McBratney, Do Like A Duck Does! by Judy Hindley, and Five Little Ducks. He lives in England.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2–Hansie Bear is a bit clumsy. Although he has lots of ideas and imagination when it comes to pretending, he always gets bumped or scraped in some way. It would be fun to walk like a duck, he thinks, until he falls sideways into a ditch and hurts his knee. Digging his deepest hole ever just gets sand in his eyes, and he also falls off his swing and bumps his head. Luckily, Dad is there to rescue his cub. He puts a bandage on Hansie's knee, tells the little bear to “blinkety-blink” to clear his eyes, hugs him, and offers a timely “there, there…you'll be fine” after each mishap. With such comforting, Hansie is up and ready to play again. But later that afternoon, he sees his father coming home walking very slowly. Dad hurt his foot when he stepped on a thorn. Mom pulls it out, but Hansie knows just what to do to make his dad feel better: “There, there,” he says with a hug, “we'll be all right now.” The soft illustrations are done in mixed media; Bates has captured the warmth of a father's love for his son in the older bear's expressions, and Hansie is an adorable young bear, full of curiosity and energy. A fine portrayal of parental love and caring.–Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CAα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Father Bear takes on the role of nurturer in this day-in-the-life tale of his cub. He is never far from Hansie as the young bear sets out on various adventures on a windy autumn day. When the cub falls into a hole, it’s Dad who helps him out, administers first aid, and offers comfort with a “there, there.” The typical toddler day continues with several explorations and a few upsets. At the end of the day, when it’s Father who is hurt, the small bear soothes his dad with gentle words and a big hug. The charming mixed-media illustrations, from small vignettes to double-page spreads, are softly hued except for Hansie’s bright red shirt. An ever-present family of ducks appears in most pictures and adds lightness and humor. Hansie is a prime example of how a youngster models behaviors, from mimicking his friends’ playful antics to displaying sympathy and caring learned from watching his father. Preschool. --Maryann Owen

Edition details

• Publisher: Templar
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763667021
• ISBN 13: 9780763667023
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Bates Ivan
• Number of pages: 40