In a Minute! (George and Ba)

Ba wants to play and he wants George to play with him now, but George has to finish his chores first and so tells little Ba that he has to be patient. 12,500 first printing.

PreS-K-The phrase "in a minute" has to be the bane of young children everywhere. Why must adults stack wood, hang laundry, and do dishes when it is obviously time to play? That's Bartholomew's conundrum, as he waits for George to finish his housework. When the older bear finally has time to spare, he discovers Bartholomew wants to carry firewood, bring in laundry, and sweep. Miller achieves just the right balance between the text and the illustrations. Her deceptively simple lines express many moods and lend enough detail to a scene without becoming busy. Thick pencil lines and colored markers emphasize the softness of the story and give a sense of homey comfort. The exception occurs when George loses his temper and "IN A MINUTE!" sprawls across the page in heavy pencil strokes. The placement of small frames between some full-page spreads conveys a sense of time passing as Bartholomew waits, and waits, and waits. A gray cat watches the proceedings, and, finally, sleeps contentedly by the picnicking bears, who have also fallen asleep at book's end. As with the other titles about these creatures, there are gentle lessons for both youngsters and adults.

Alison Kastner, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Young Bartholomew the bear once again teams up with the older, wiser George for In a Minute! by Virginia Miller. Bartholomew just wants to play, but George has many chores to go before the two can frolic... and nap (after a prolonged playtime). Miller once again captures a toddler's sense of make-believe and gets the loving rapport between this pair of bears just right.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Ages 2-5. It's a scenario most families know well. Bartholomew, "Ba," is a small bear who wants to play, but George is busy with housework. Ba is a pest, getting in the way, wanting attention, until George yells in a big voice, "In a minute!" Ba tries to wait, but by the time George is ready, Ba has figured out that play means joining in the fun of carrying the firewood, bringing in the laundry, and sweeping the floor. As in the other books about Bartholomew and George, the soft-toned pictures in pencil and colored markers express the mischief and warmth of the story as well as the bond between the little bear and his affectionate caregiver. Hazel Rochman
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