Bear & Hare
Where’s Bear?
by Emily Gravett
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016. Originally published in Great Britain in 2014. 28 pages.
Starred Review
Here’s a sweet toddler-friendly story that provides counting practice along the way.
The text is simple. The first line is the most complicated one of the whole book:
Bear and Hare are playing hide-and-seek.
From there, the words are the numbers 1 through 10 written large, stretching across the page, showing Hare with his eyes covered. On the other side of the spread, next to the number 10, are the words “Where’s Bear?”
We turn the page and see Bear trying very inadequately to hide behind a lamp. Hare is pointing and saying, “There!”
The idea repeats.
After three tries where Bear is very easy to find, we see:
Maybe Hare should try hiding instead?
We’ve got the big numbers across the page again, this time with “Where’s Hare?”
Hare’s a lot harder to find. Sharp readers will spot his ears poking out. But when Bear looks under the blanket, the bed calls to him. Now Hare comes out and can’t find him!
It all ends with Hare shouting “I WANT BEAR!”
On the final page, we’ve got a cozy hug, and the words “There.”
You couldn’t ask for a cozier story to make toddlers feel clever – and get counting practice in, too.
emilygravett.com
simonandschuster.com/kids
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Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.
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