Book Review: It’s the Bear!
It’s the Bear! is the second book, and my favorite, in Jez Alborough’s series of Eddie and Bear books. In this episode, Eddie and his mom head into the woods for a picnic. But, Eddie doesn’t want to go. He’s scared about the bear that lives in the woods. His mother scoffs, insisting that no bear lives in the woods.
They find a lovely spot in a clearing in the woods and layout their picnic blanket. But, uh oh! They’ve forgetten the pie. Eddie’s mom dashes back to get it, leaving Eddie behind in the woods with the picnic basket. Eddie hears a deep voice coming from the woods. It’s the Bear!
Eddie hides in the picnic basket while the giant bear (who holds his giant teddy bear while he munches) eats the picnic lunch. The bear opens the picnic basket. Eddie screams in terror. He wants his mom! The giant bear clutches his teddy. Eddie’s scared him. Along comes Eddie’s mom carrying the pie. She asks what’s wrong. Eddie answers that it’s the bear. His mom continues to scoff. Until she spots the bear and the pie goes flying. Eddie and his mom grab their picnic things and run, while the bear walks away, holding his giant teddy and eating pie.
Just like the first Eddie and Bear book, Where’s my Teddy?, It’s the Bear is beautifully illustrated. The colors are brilliant and the depth amazing. Jez Alborough, author and illustrator of It’s the Bear has a rare ability to convey emotion with simple illustrations. When Eddie is finally able to show his mother there is a bear in the woods and her smug expression changes to shock, while Eddies fearful expression changes to humor, the touch is just right. And, while at first the idea of the bear is scary, Eddie’s expressions and the bears surprising fear, love for his teddy and joy over eating blueberry pie take away any fear that young children may feel.
Unlike many books that are written by the illustrator, the story does not take second place to the illustations. It is fast moving and well paced, with rhyming text that perfectly compliments the images.
Ages: 2+ (I know 8-year-olds who love this book too)
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