Book Review - Little Cub

Author/Illustrator: Olivier Dunrea
Publisher: Philomel (November 27, 2012)
Source: Personal Copy
Audience: 2 to 6 years
Friendship * Foster Care * Bears

Description from GoodReads:
A darling companion to Old Bear and His Cub from the New York Times bestselling creator of the Gossie books.

What's an Old Bear to do when he finds a Little Cub all alone and afraid of the dark? Adopt him, of course! And help him try to get over his fears. In this book we see the father and son from Old Bear and His Cub meet for the first time--and grow to love one another.

With the same bold art and humorous twist on parenting, Olivier Dunrea's tumbling bears will melt your heart and show how strong the bond is between any father and son pair.


My thoughts on the book:
I am a softie for picture books with bears.  I seem to always be picking them up and reading them.  So it was no surprise that I would pick up Little Cub when I saw it in the bookstore.  As much as I adore bear picture books, I usually am a little harsh on the one more mother/child or father/child or grandparent/grandchild story that is meant to tug on the heartstrings.  However, Dunrea manages to completely win me over with his story about an orphaned cub and a crotchety old bear.  Little Cub is all alone and Old Bear is pretty set in his ways.  I love how Dunrea contrasts the two with the illustrations.  In one scene you have Little Cub, who is hungry, contemplating how he could catch a fish.  On the next page, you have Old Bear walking along with his catch of the day.     


Just as the illustrations contrast, the text does the same:
Every morning, the little cub splashed in the stream.
He watched the silvery fish swimming around his toes.
"Hmmpf," said the little cub.  "I wish I knew how to catch a fish."
But there was no one to teach him.
Turning the page....
Every morning, Old Bear trudged to the stream.
He caught a large fish for his breakfast.
"Hmmpf," said Old Bear.  "I wish I had someone to share this fish with."
But there was no one.
Dunrea understands his young audience.  Simple yet detailed pencil and gouache on watercolor paper pop on stark white backgrounds.  Text that has a pattern and a predictability allows young pre-readers to learn the rhythm of the story and to "read along".  Additionally, there is enough emotion and "awww" without being too saccharine.  

Of course, readers who began with Old Bear and His Cub two years ago will know that these two will ultimately find and adopt each other.  Yet there is something special about seeing how Little Cub and Old Bear came to be.  These two bears certainly caught my heart and I hope they catch yours. 
 
Check out the Little Cub page on Dunrea's site.  I loved seeing an original page before it was transformed into a book page.


 
Old Bear and His Cub (Board Book released November 2012; original hardcover 2010) - the original story of Old Bear and Little Cub is now available in a board book format.   




Little Cub or Old Bear and His Cub by Olivier Dunrea are perfect holiday gifts for special little ones in your lives.  They are available at your local bookstore.  Remember to buy from an Independent Bookstore when you can.

For more information about Olivier Dunrea: website | blog 

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (46)

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

My reading recently was influenced by Sunday's Nerdy Book Club nominations.  There were a few in the nonfiction picture book category and early reader that I hadn't found yet so I went in search of them.  Here are some of what I loved...


Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover by Cece Bell - This one is laugh out loud funny.


Birds of a Feather by Bernadette Gervais - How did I miss this one?  I love this oversized nonfiction flap book.


Nic Bishop Snakes by Nic Bishop - This is really well done, and creepy in a really good way.


Teen Boat by Dave Roman and John Green - A graphic novel that needs to be read more than once to catch all of the references. Lots of fun.

Some other titles not on the Nerdies...


Little Cub by Olivier Dunrea - One of those really sweet books (child/parent type) and I just fell in love with it.


I Funny by James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein, and Laura Park - Fans of A Diary of a Wimpy Kid will love this one.

There were so many more but I am saving a few for Wednesday's Nonfiction Picture Book Post.

So what are you reading?

Author Event - Tao Nyeu and Salina Yoon


Sometimes when I see a book I can't stop thinking about how I would like to do an event around it.  In those moments, I let my book event partner in crime, Alethea, in on my thoughts and we see what we can do.  When I read Squid & Octopus Friends For Always by Tao Nyeu, I knew I wanted to host an author event with Tao and her book.  Alethea picked up on the possible knitting connection and checked to see if Unwind Yarn Store in Burbank would be willing to allow us to use their space for the event.  Thank you to Nicole White, Marisa Russell and Penguin Books, for arranging for Tao Nyeu to be apart of this event.

Next, I saw the book Penguin & Pinecone by Salina Yoon.  Another great picture book about friendship with a knitting tie-in.  

Penguin & Pinecone Official Book Trailer:



Alethea and I brainstormed further.  What if Tao and Salina were to do the event together?  A few more emails and working out the logistics and now Bridge to Books had knitting related book event with not one but two fabulous authors.


There was yummy food and drinks - thanks Alethea!


And really yummy and special cake pops made by maskipops by adri



Tao created a knitting pattern for the hat that Squid wears in the book.


Salina brought special crafts.


There were even knitting lessons and attendees were able to make scarves for their own pinecones.

Nicole White (Penguin Sales Rep) gets a lesson in knitting from Alethea.
And of course there was storytime...

Tao reads Squid & Octopus.
Salina reads Penguin & Pinecone.
Attendees listen to stories.
There was also a photo op available with Penguin.

Jen Pino with Penguin
And Once Upon a Time in Montrose provided books for sale.  Tao and Salina were kept busy signing books for those who came.

Tao and Salina sign books.
Thank you all the Bridge to Books volunteers, Unwind Yarn Store, Once Upon a Time Bookstore, and all the fabulous folks who came out on a rainy Saturday to hang with Tao Nyeu and Salina Yoon.  And of course a special thank you for Tao and Salina who came and interacted with everyone and made this a very special event.

Salina Yoon and Tao Nyeu
For more information on upcoming Bridge to Books events, join our mailing list located on http://bridgetobooks.org/ 

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - Buffalo Bird Girl

Author/Illustrator: S. D. Nelson
Publisher:  Abrams Books for Young Children (October 1, 2012)
Source: Personal Copy
Read Aloud Level: 2nd to 5th grade
Independent Reading Level:  3rd to 6th grade
Biography * Native American History * Women's History

Description from GoodReads:
This fascinating picture book biography tells the childhood story of Buffalo Bird Woman, a Hidatsa Indian born around 1839. Through her true story, readers will learn what it was like to be part of this Native American community that lived along the Missouri River in the Dakotas, a society that depended more on agriculture for food and survival than on hunting. Children will relate to Buffalo Bird Girl’s routine of chores and playing with friends, and they will also be captivated by her lifestyle and the dangers that came with it.

Using as a resource the works of Gilbert L. Wilson, who met Buffalo Bird Woman and transcribed her life’s story in the early 20th century, award-winning author-illustrator S. D. Nelson has captured the spirit of Buffalo Bird Girl and her lost way of life. The book includes a historical timeline.


My thoughts on this book:
Over the past several years, I have discovered that many educators do not fully grasp picture books.  They may see them as something that could be used as a read aloud during a thirty minute library session with older students but may not grasp how a picture book can be used effectively as part of classroom instruction.  As I was reading Buffalo Bird Girl, I realized that this beautifully illustrated and written narrative biography of a Hidatsa girl would be overlooked by many teachers.  Whereas a teacher may give more attention to this book and Buffalo Bird Girl's story if it was formatted as a chapter book, the beauty of the illustrations are best conveyed in a picture book format. 

Nelson shares the story of Buffalo Bird Girl who was born in the 1830's into the Hidatsa tribe on the Great Plains.  The story is told from her perspective and describes her typical experiences growing up in a tribal community.  Children learn about the way the Hidatsa community members lived, the kinds of food that they ate, clothes they wore, the games that the children played, how the males of the tribe would protect women and children, and ways they celebrated.  Illustrations are compromised of acrylic paintings and black and white photos of Hidatsa tribe members from the early part of the twentieth century performing daily tasks or of items that would have been part of their lives.

Nelson provides extensive author notes at the end along with a timeline and select bibliography.  Buffalo Bird Girl is well written and would be an excellent resource for a classroom or school library.  Look for Buffalo Bird Girl at your local library or independent bookstore. 
  
About Stephen D. Nelson:  
S. D. Nelson is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas. He is the award-winning author and illustrator of numerous children’s books, including Black Elk’s Vision, Gift Horse, Coyote Christmas, and The Star People. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona. Visit him online at www.sdnelson.net.


Link up your nonfiction picture book reviews:

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (45)

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

Some weeks I start a bunch of books but don't finish any or finish some and still are reading others.  This past week is one of those weeks.  I am juggling several books and a few I finished or am close to finishing.

Almost finished this past week:


Every Day by David Levithan (audiobook) - The audiobook for this one is really good.  And Levithan has proven to once again be a brilliant writer. 


Goblin Secrets by William Alexander - A very smartly written steampunk, fantasy for Middle Grade readers and the winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

Finished this past week:


I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga - If you are looking for a well written mystery/thriller and don't mind such a serious and gruesome topic, then I would highly recommend this one.


A Certain October by Angela Johnson - I had never read anything by Johnson before and I can understand why she has been a three-time Coretta Scott King award winner.

Starting this week:


Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

I think I am in for some heavy reading over the next several weeks.  I want to finish all of the National Book Award Finalist books for Young People's literature.  Goblin Secrets won the category and Endangered was a finalist. Once I finish these two, then I will have 3 of the "heavier" (emotionally) books to tackle.

So what are you reading?