Old Bear

by Kevin Henkes, Kevin Henkes (Illustrator)

Overview

"A celebration of simple, pure joy"* from Caldecott medalist Kevin Henkes. New York Times bestseller!

Old Bear lumbers to his cave to hibernate till spring. In his dreams, he is a cub again, exploring the seasons—summer, fall, winter, and spring.

When he finally awakes, Old Bear is so happy to find the outside world waiting for him, just as beautiful as in his dreams.

“As in so many of Henkes’s books, nothing is superfluous. Every word, line, color choice, and composition feels essential and fits beautifully into a common theme.” (Booklist* starred review)

“Henkes has created a thoroughly delightful character filled with curiosity and sweetness and placed him in a simple tale that unfolds with a natural, rhythmical pace. Old Bear will enrapture young listeners for years to come.” (School Library Journal starred review)

“Lyrically describing the young-at-heart, Henkes plays an artist’s game of hot and cold watercolor hues.” (Publishers Weekly starred review)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061552052
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/19/2008
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	652,449
Product dimensions:	9.24(w) x 9.62(h) x 0.41(d)
Age Range:	2 - 7 Years

About the Author

Kevin Henkes has been praised both as a writer and as an illustrator and is the recipient of the Children’s Literature Legacy Award for his lasting contribution to literature for children. He received the Caldecott Medal for Kitten’s First Full Moon; Caldecott Honors for Waiting and Owen; two Newbery Honors, one for Olive’s Ocean and one for The Year of Billy Miller; and Geisel Honors for Waiting and Penny and Her Marble. His other books include The World and Everything in It; A House; A Parade of Elephants; Chrysanthemum; and the beloved Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Kevin Henkes lives with his family in Madison, Wisconsin.

Kevin Henkes has been praised both as a writer and as an illustrator and is the recipient of the Children’s Literature Legacy Award for his lasting contribution to literature for children. He received the Caldecott Medal for Kitten’s First Full Moon; Caldecott Honors for Waiting and Owen; two Newbery Honors, one for Olive’s Ocean and one for The Year of Billy Miller; and Geisel Honors for Waiting and Penny and Her Marble. His other books include The World and Everything in It; A House; A Parade of Elephants; Chrysanthemum; and the beloved Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Kevin Henkes lives with his family in Madison, Wisconsin.

Hometown:

Madison, Wisconsin

Date of Birth:

November 27, 1960

Place of Birth:

Racine, Wisconsin

Education:

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Website:

http://www.kevinhenkes.com

Editorial Reviews

…story and minimal text [are] finely pitched to a toddler's level…Exquisite.
—The New York Times

Pamela Paul

In time for autumn, Henkes (Kitten's First Full Moon) masterfully tells of a hibernating bear who "dreamed that spring had come and he was a cub again." Henkes's surefooted art guides readers through time: a terracotta dust jacket and acorn-brown frontpapers inked with dark brown leaves set the season. The tawny bear, pictured in full-page or four-to-a-page images, curls in his den, his eyes closed and his paws relaxed. Full-bleed spreads depict his dreams, first of being small among enormous flowers ("He took a nap in a giant pink crocus"), then of wandering on lush green summer hillsides ("The sky clouded over, and it rained blueberries"). His hibernation vision of fall includes rust-colored birds and orange fish, and his imaginary winter is a cool blue expanse under stars "of all colors." When the bear's eyes open on a real spring day, he feels refreshed, if larger and older than his dream self. Lyrically describing the young-at-heart, Henkes plays an artist's game of hot and cold watercolor hues. Lilac endpapers crowded with flowers and butterflies and a back cover image of the bear in springtime balance the cover's imagery and gently and calmly acknowledge the annual cycle. Ages 2-7. (Sept.)

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Publishers Weekly

PreS-K

Henkes cleverly begins his story on the front jacket. Against a backdrop of red leaves and drifting snowflakes, a large and endearing molasses-colored bear, defined by sturdy dark brown lines, strides across the page. His journey continues through the opening spreads: it is obvious that this creature knows exactly where he is heading. By the time the story actually begins, Old Bear has found his den and lies sound asleep, oblivious to the swirl of winter around him. Dreams comfort him: once more a cub and surrounded by the colors of spring, he naps in a giant pink crocus. His dreams turn to summer where a daisy sun shines in the sky, leaves appear as butterflies, and clouds rain tasty blueberries. Old Bear dreams on through the seasons. Then, one day he awakens, stretches, and heads out into the real world where he is met with flowering trees, butterflies and tulips, and a glistening lake. Now, Old Bear is part of the wonder. As he did in Kitten's First Full Moon , Henkes has created a thoroughly delightful character filled with curiosity and sweetness and placed him in a simple tale that unfolds with a natural, rhythmical pace. And to fill out his cyclical story, the artist provides autumnal front endpapers and contrasting vernal back endpapers. Opportunities to introduce the seasons, colors, and animal hibernation abound. Old Bear will enrapture young listeners for years to come.-Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA

School Library Journal

When Old Bear sleeps, he dreams of being a cub and of the changing seasons. When he wakens and steps out into the soft pastels of Henkes's spring, he does not feel the passage of time, and in expression and carriage he exudes youthfulness. Many careful choices are made in a book that only seems uncomplicated. As bears go, smiling Old Bear looks as friendly as the teddies children cherish. His benign but shaggy appearance will invite them to learn many concepts, in the gentlest and most implicit way: youth and age, hibernation and renewal, the passage of seasons. Watercolor-and-ink paintings are bright but delicately hued. Bear's bold outline changes with the palette of each season. His fanciful dreams, as well as the spring "reveal," are full bleed, double-page spreads while other illustrations are neatly framed, emphasizing the ursine bulk. Confident, harmonious and sweet. (Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews

Classically and timelessly simple…another winner for very young children.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“Old Bear will enrapture young listeners for years to come.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“Kindergartens and preschool classes studying the seasons will no doubt embrace this book.” — New York Times Book Review

“Elemental words and graceful pacing make this a perfect read-aloud for preschoolers.” — Booklist (starred review)

From the Publisher

Classically and timelessly simple…another winner for very young children.

Horn Book (starred review)

Kindergartens and preschool classes studying the seasons will no doubt embrace this book.

New York Times Book Review

Elemental words and graceful pacing make this a perfect read-aloud for preschoolers.

Booklist (starred review)

"Elemental words and graceful pacing make this a perfect read-aloud for preschoolers."

Booklist

"Classically and timelessly simple…another winner for very young children."

Horn Book