Fiction Books - Page 4

Bear's First Christmas

Robert Kinerk

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A sickly sweet Christmas lesson 4 out of 5 stars.
9 of 13 people found this review helpful.

Christmas is about sharing, and that's the lesson this book is trying to teach. A young bear is woken from his hibernation by the sound of Christmas songs, and on his way to find the source of the music, he runs into animals who are in need of help. As he helps them, both he and they learn the real meaning of Christmas: Sharing and giving selflessly is the source of Christmas happiness.

The art is very nice. When the story describes the bear listening for the music, the artist was able to recreate the scene perfectly. The children in the house singing carols are portrayed in rapturous joy and the tenderness of the bear is lovingly painted.

Despite the author's portrayal of bears as playful, happy, and helpful animals, I think this book is very enjoyable and appropriate for kids 2 and up. I don't think it's a good idea to portray bears like that since they are actually strong, wild animals which should not be approached, but so many other kids books portray them as cuddly, so I can't be too hard on Kinerk here.

What I can be hard on is the choice of font. The skinny, broken, scraggly font is hard to read. It is difficult to read ahead while reading aloud since the font needs deciphering. It took a couple readings before I could effectively read this aloud to my son.

One other problem for some parents is the omission of Christ and/or any other religious significance for the holiday. The Christmas tree is given an unnecessary significance, and the book has a heavy dose of naturalism. This may be a turn off for those parents who wish to teach their kids "the reason for the season".

All in all, the book is entertaining, well drawn, and has enough plot to be read over and over again. Naturally, the book only has a shelf-life of a month or two before the Christmas season is over, but the book's physical binding and size make it a keeper. 4 stars for an excellent book, but a point off for the font.

Editorial Review:

In the dark of winter, deep in the woods, a lone bear is awakened from his winter sleep by a soft and mysterious sound. Under the stars the bear finds his way step by step through the snowy forest, making friends along his route. Then the bear discovers a place in the woods that glows magically with something he and his friends could never have imagined -- their first Christmas.

Robert Kinerk's inspired story and Jim LaMarche's glimmering illustrations combine in a picture book that captures the joy and spirit of Christmas. Come along with bear and his friends and see the magical light of Bear's First Christmas.

Bear Feels Sick

Karma Wilson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A heartwarming tale about friendship 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have been reading the Bear books to my daughter since she was a toddler and we have many books in the series. In "Bear Feels Sick", dear old bear feels poorly and keeps sneezing and wheezing. When his woodland friends [rabbit, mouse, mole, crow etc] come to visit and call him to play, he says he is too sick to play. So what do Bear's friends do? They get together and try to make Bear feel better - collecting herbs, applying a cold compress, fixing him some nourishing soup etc. Soon, Bear is all better, and all ready to play - but finds his friends are now sick! What does Bear do?

This is a heartwarming tale about the value of friendship - sticking together and helping each other out during times of difficulty. As usual, the text is written in 'simple' language, perfect for preschoolers and the illustrations are full-color and simply beautiful. I would recommend all the books in the Bear series as they all have a heartwarming message and are wonderful for reading aloud. Bear and friends are such cute characters that little ones can relate to and you will have your child clamoring for more Bear and friends' adventures!

Editorial Review:

Bear is not feeling well at all; he is achy, sneezy, wheezy and sick and in no shape to go outside to play. Mole, Hare, Mouse and the rest of the gang try to make Bear feel as comfortable as possible in his cave. Under the care of his friends, Bear starts to get better but as soon as Bear is well, guess what happens? All of his friends get sick!

A Kiss for Little Bear (An I Can Read Book)

Else Holmelund Minarik

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Simply Adorable 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

A Kiss for Little Bear is a charming story about a young bear who draws a picture for is grandmother. Not surprisingly at all, this picture looks like one of the monsters from "Were the Wild Things Are." Little Bear has his friend Hen deliver the picture to Grandmother Bear. She is so delighted with the drawing that she sends Hen back to Little Bear with a kiss for him. The simple kiss gets passed on, friend to friend ("telephone style") until it finally gets to Little Bear. Little Bear ask Hen to take a kiss back to Grandmother Bear. But Hen refuses because "kisses get all mixed up." In the end, the girl and boy skunk get married, because they enjoyed the kissing. It is all very sweet and innocent.

My copy is 40 years old. I remember my mother reading this to me. It was then passed to my aunt to read to her children. When I was pregnant, my aunt gave it back to me. I love reading this enchanting story to my daughter. We giggle and trade kisses and have a great snuggle right before bed. This is another memory filled classic that I am truly thrilled to be able to pass on. Highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

Grandmother likes Little Bear's picture so much she sends him a thank you kiss. "Will you take it to him, Hen?" she says. Hen passes the kiss to Frog who passes it to Cat who passes it to Little Skunk until Hen decides there is too much kissing -- and finally gives the kiss to the Little Bear.

The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School (Berenstain Bears®)

Michael Berenstain

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Another Great Lesson and Adventure for the Bears 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

What a wonderful this story is and so true to many a family life. The Berenstain Bears have always been wonderful, but the Go to Sunday School story is a great one to share and explain to family how great going to church and Sunday School can be, even for a bear. :)



I highly recommend this story for families, especially those with kids ages 4-7. This and all the other Berenstain Bear books, especially the newest ones coming from Mike Berenstain, son to the creators Jan and Stan. How busy is your life? Can you find time for church and Sunday School as a family?

A lot of reading 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Compared to other Berenstain bears books, the new ones by Mike Berenstain have a lot of words and can get a little boring and mundane. They also don't start with the clever little rhyme like his parents did. They still teach the lesson but it's a little bit over kill and if you are reading these at bedtime (like myself) suddenly your reading time is quite a bit longer, so instead of 2 books you may only have time for 1.

Editorial Review:

When Mama Bear decides its been too long since they’ve attended church at the Chapel in the Woods, the Bear family works to get back in the habit. It isn’t long before the family remembers what a wonderful place the church is and finds that going to church is something they look forward to every week.

Bear's New Friend

Karma Wilson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Love it! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book for my son a few weeks ago, and all my kids love it just as much as it's 3 predecessors. I admit, I'm the real fanatic in the family when it comes to the Bear Snores On series...I love the rhythm of the text and when the kids join in with the catch phrase that each book has "and the bear snores on", "the bear wants more", or, in this case "who?"...even though, they all know who the new friend is. Fabulous addition to your collection.

Editorial Review:

Bear is going to the swimming hole, but first he must find his friends.

There's a clatter in the tree! Is it Mouse? No . . .

"Who?" calls Bear.

Something quickly scampers by! Is it Hare? No . . .

"Who?" calls Bear.

Someone seems to be hiding from Bear and his friends. Who is it? WHO?

How Bear and his forest friends discover a NEW FRIEND will enchant young readers. Karma Wilson's playful text and Jane Chapman's radiant illustrations make Bear's New Friend a perfect summertime read-aloud companion to the bestselling Bear Snores On.

Touching Spirit Bear (rack)

Ben Mikaelsen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 282 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Accepting Responsibility For One's Actions 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent story about Cole, an angry abused boy, who was mad at the world and his personal journey of dealing with his anger and becoming a better person through Circle Justice or Restoration Justice. He beat up Peter to the point of causing him permanent harm and never took any responsibility for his actions until he faced death and began questioning his life. This is a story about helping others and how the Circle Justice system works which Native Americans practiced for years.

The idea is to restore the criminal to become a good citizen and not just punish them. Instead of jail or a detention center, Cole was banished to live for a year on an island in Alaska alone. At the end of the year, the Circle Justice group, made up of all those involved, would meet again and determine if he should go to jail or not. Cole had a traumatic experience while on the island and after just three days was hospitalized after being mauled by a spirit bear. After his rehabilitation he went back. Peter tried committing suicide twice and Cole learned much while on the island, including how many mistakes he made and wanted to make things right if he could.

I really liked this book a lot and had trouble putting it down. I was anxious to see what would happen next. There is no boring part in it. There are many themes running through this book such as abuse, justice, survival, anger, forgiveness, healing.

Editorial Review:

Will the attack of the Spirit Bear destroy Cole's life or save his soul?

Cole Matthews has been fighting, stealing, and raising hell for years. So his punishment for beating Peter Driscal senseless is harsh. Given a choice between prison and Native American Circle Justice, Cole chooses Circle Justice: He'll spend one year in complete isolation on a remote Alaskan island. In the first days of his banishment, Cole is mauled by a mysterious white bear and nearly dies. Now there's no one left to save Cole, but Cole himself.

God Gave Us Heaven

Lisa T. Bergren

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great resource to talk with children about loss 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The dedication for this book is to a child that died at the age of six, bringing a wistful pause before the book begins. This is a special story dedicated to the hope Christians have in an assurance of a future in Heaven. The story states that while physical death is unavoidable in a fallen world, God offers Christians the Hope of a bridge to Him through Jesus.

This is the kind of hope that sooths the parents of a deceased child or the small child left behind by the death of pets or relatives. It can even comfort the polar bear tribe, an endangered species facing extinction amid disappearing sea ice. Even in this danger, the polar bears show joy to their cubs, because all creation will sing His Name in Heaven, where ice is unnecessary.

A polar bear father teaches his she-cub about Heaven by using scriptural tenets. For instance, polar bears do not become angels when they die, because angels and polar bears have their own unique, much-needed purposes in God's plan. The circle of family can be unbroken in Heaven, if all have used God's bridge. There, sorrows are left behind and Heaven is full of joy and smiles. Thus, Jesus is a real gift from God, but we have to accept, believe, and use Him as the bridge to Heaven.

The polar bears go fishing, but don't catch any fish. The fish are wearing bibs, ready for the "all-day dinner" in Heaven that is sung and preached quite often. The bears delight in the thought of such a buffet and the undercurrent in the story it that while a lack of resources plagues the earth, such lack is nowhere in Heaven. The bears return home in the story, the little cub content that Heaven is real.

God Gave Us Heaven is a good resource for the Christian home for comforting young children about human and animal deaths.

Armchair Interviews says: Children from pre-school to mid-elementary ages will enjoy it.

Editorial Review:

As the sun rises on her snow-covered world, Little Cub wonders aloud…

“What is heaven like?”

With tender words, her Papa describes a wonderful place, free of sadness and tears, where God warmly welcomes his loved ones after their life on earth is over. Little Cub and Papa spend the day wandering their beautiful, invigorating arctic world while she asks all about God’s home: How do we get to heaven? Will we eat there? Will I get to see you in heaven? Papa patiently answers each question, assuring her that…

“Heaven will be full of everything good.”

This gentle story provides satisfying answers for a young child’s most difficult questions about what happens after this life, inviting “little cubs” to find comfort in knowing that God Gave Us Heaven.

Also available:
God Gave Us You
God Gave Us Two
God Gave Us Christmas

Big Book of The Berenstain Bears (Berenstain Bears (Random House Hardcover))

Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

LOVE IT 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Its a great collection. If you're not familiar with the Berenstain Bears, let me be the first to tell you, you have just found your new favorite literary characters. The illustrations are so unique and precise. The stories are heartfelt, realistic and give good advice. I use these stories for a lot of the moral lessons for my children.

Big Book of The Berenstain Bears 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My 2 1/2 year old grandaughter already has an interest in books and she absolutely loved this book. I looked in the book when she was finished and realized that the
pictures vividly tell the story - she didn't even need anyone to read it to her
- she quietly sat looking at the book for a long time. When I did read it to her
the words were sparse and well written - just perfect for her age.

Editorial Review:

THE BERENSTAIN BEARS' First Time Books are all about new experiences children encounter in their early years. With good-natured wisdom, love, and gentle humor, these books ease the way for kids - and their parents - through these first times. Collected in this treasury are: The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor, The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room, The Berestain Bears in the Dark, The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter, and The Berenstain Bears' New Baby.

Inside Outside Upside Down (Bright & Early Books(R))

Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

We really like this 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is one of the earlier Berenstain Bear books, and it shows. Ignore the cover, the bears on the *inside* of this book are less stylized and cutesy than the bears in the newer books, and the story is an early reader instead of a longer read-aloud.

It's a cute little story about a cub and his misadventures in a box. The illustrations make it perfect :)

There are only a few words per page, so this one is perfect both for early readers and for little-little ones learning to talk - the book focuses on prepositions, as you might guess from the title.

Good for Learning 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is not what I'm used to from the Berenstain Bears paperback books: lessons on growing up from Brother and Sister. It is, however, very good for teaching my 15 month old about inside, outside, upside down, right side up. She enjoys the book, but not as much as many of her other books that have more things going on.

Editorial Review:

Illus. in full color. A bear explores a carton on a truck and gets carried away. By the time he has returned, the reader will be exposed to the concepts of "inside, outside, upside down."  

Little Bear (An I Can Read Book)

Elsa Holmelund Minarik, Maurice Sendak

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Charming, cheerful readers for little ones 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My kids and I came to know Little Bear through the cartoons on TV first. Perhaps part of the appeal of the books for my kids is that they know these stories well from the cartoon, but the books are much more engaging!

Best of all, unlike the cartoons, you have the amazing illustrations of Maurice Sendak. They give the books a timeless appeal.

Perfect to read to little ones, and an excellent reader for K-2.

Other titles in the Level 1 - Beginning Reading series are:

- "Father Bear Comes Home"

- "A Kiss For Little Bear"

- "Little Bear's Friend"

- "Little Bear's Visit"

Editorial Review:

Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return. At night she helps him get to sleep. And, of course, she never forgets his birthday.