Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Oakdale Library | EASY HES | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Mama Bear finds a gentle way to make the medicine go down in another timeless tale about Sam and Mrs. Bear, the winsome stars of Kiss Good Night. Full-color illustrations.
Author Notes
Children's book author Amy Hest was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a children's librarian in the New York Public Library system and in the children's book publishing industry. She has written over thirty children's books, many of which included family and intergenerational themes. She is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and a winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-When putting Sam to bed, Mrs. Bear hears him cough. She tries to give him medicine but he doesn't like the taste and there is too much of it. With the promise of waiting together for the snow to come, the cub finally takes the cough syrup. Mother and child go downstairs, have some tea, and cuddle up in a soft, cozy chair, where Mrs. Bear tells a story about a bear named Sam. As they sleep, the snow begins to fall, and the last page shows them building a snowbear. Jeram's soft, saturated acrylic illustrations extend Hest's quiet, gentle text. The bears are the focal point on every spread, and their household has lots of warm, subtle touches and curving lines that give the book a comfortable look. Two mice appear throughout; they, too, are part of this loving environment. A feel-good story to curl up with on a cold winter night.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In this followup to the team's Kiss Good Night, bear cub Sam comes down with a cough "Hck, hck!" he hacks and is doted upon by his unflappable mother. If Sam can steel himself to take his cough medicine ("Tastes bad," he says, before his mother even pours out the syrup. "I don't have a cough"), then Mrs. Bear will reward his bravery by letting him stay up to watch the snowfall. "Sam leaned back on his mama's soft belly, and it wriggled while she talked," writes Hest after the deed is done. "The little fire glowed and the kitchen was warm." Jeram nestles tiny Sam into Mrs. Bear's voluminous girth (sweetly playing up the contrast in their sizes, as she did so effectively in the first book), while the thickly textured ocher walls of their snug home seem to stand guard against the frigid night. As in the earlier title, Hest's soothingly rhythmic and repetitive prose, Jeram's burnished-hued acrylics, and the unwavering affection between Sam and his mother conjure up the essence of familial warmth. Being sick may have its downside, but the author and illustrator emphasize the extra coddling and indulgences that come with feeling under the weather. Ages 2-6. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Sam the bear must take medicine to soothe his cough ([cf2]Hck, hck![cf1]). His patient mother coaxes him to swallow the awful-tasting syrup, and then they spend a winter evening at home together. The loving relationship between mother and child carries the quiet, simple tale to its expected conclusion: a perfect snowfall. Acrylics rendered in warm golden tones enhance the overall feeling of coziness. From HORN BOOK Spring 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The direful sound of a toddler's cough in the night is the focus of this poignant sequel to Hest's Kiss Good Night (2001). All snuggled up in bed on a frosty night, the young bear cub Sam is kept awake by a persistent cough. Mrs. Bear's appearance with Sam's syrup heralds the battle of the medicine spoon. In typical toddler fashion, Sam staunchly declares that the syrup tastes too bad, the spoon is too large and too full. Hest adroitly captures the very essence of toddler feistiness when it comes to all things medicinal. "Sam opened up, then closed his mouth tight. Too much syrup on a too-big spoon." The irresistible allure of a snowy spectacle is ultimately the encouragement Sam needs to gulp down his syrup. Afterward, cozily ensconced in an armchair, mother and cub keep their vigil throughout the night until the first snowflakes appear-only to fall unseen by the pair gently dozing in the chair. Jeram's inviting acrylic illustrations draw readers into the snug warmth of the Bear home. Dusky hues combined with rich earth tones capture the soothing sense of twilight. Serene images convey the deep affection between parent and child while expressing the consummate feeling of security exuded by a well-cherished tot. Just the thing to share with a little one struggling with a bout of the sniffles. (Picture book. 2-6)
