Alphabet Pick: Bear Is Awake! An Alphabet Story

Bear Is Awake! An Alphabet Story
by Hannah E. Harrison
Illustrations by the author
Dial Books
32 pages
2019
ISBN:9870399186660

Available November 26, 2019

A different kind of alphabet story! Bear Is Awake! features an adorable bear who wakes up early and a clever little girl who becomes his willing playmate. After his long winter nap, Bear is famished and quickly raids the little girl's family's pantry. She scolds him and they travel across the town to the library (my FAVORITE part!) where the L stands for library, listen and learn. The only drawback to this two-page spread is that the librarian appears to be a stereotype: although she is black, she is middle-aged and shown wearing glasses. Authors and illustrators should be more careful about picturing librarians and teachers as always female, always middle-aged and always wearing glasses, but the rest of the story makes up for this little error. Because I'm a career librarian and educator, I'm hyperaware of this long standing stereotype.

The girl and the bear share adventures, but she knows Bear must go back to the forest and she takes him there, tucks him in and leaves him a note after he falls asleep: See you in the Spring! the note reads.

Illustrations are wonderfully whimsical. Bear will become every child's new best friend. Children should easily be able to explain the message of this sweet story: friendship, care, love and empathy.

Bear Is Awake! is a must have for any child's book shelf and all pre-school collections. This is the best alphabet book you'll ever read! FIVE STARS!

Highly, highly recommended! I love this book! Picture book of the YEAR! This book could be used with older students in art classes and creative writing classes. Writers would have fun coming up with new alphabet books of their own.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Early Reader Pick: Where's the Scone

Where's the Scone
by Beth Dexter-Smith
Illustrated by Calvin Innes
My Little Big Town Ltd
2013
32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-907746-13-0

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Simply charming text, quaint rhyming verse, and adorable animal illustrations make Where's the Scone an imaginative counting book for young learners.

The author wisely chose unique animals: llamas, bream, yeti and gnu to eat equally unique foods: tofu, scones and prunes. American children may not have ever heard of or tasted tofu or prunes. Scones are not usually a part of the American diet, but hail originally from Scotland and are as common to the British as biscuits are to Americans. Young children will encounter bream (a type of fish), gnu (also known as the wildebeest), and yeti (abominable snowman) for the first time.

The illustrations are clever, colorful and quirky and the rhyming text is creative and innovative. Consider "6 gnu tasting tofu/ 5 Yeti sucking spaghetti..." and you know that children will giggle as they learn.

Where's the Scone will have wide appeal with young learners and toddlers learning to count.

Highly recommended ages 1-up. Available from the publisher and other fine booksellers.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)