Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Oakdale Library | EASY BLO | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Who will fix the friendship? It's playtime and Bear and Goose are having fun. Then Little Fox joins in and somebody gets left out. Sound familiar? The dilemma of choosing one friend over another is one of childhood's classic problems. Someone's feelings are bound to get hurt. But as this gentle story shows, the solution lies in including friends, not excluding them. As in her previous Bear and Goose stories, Suzanne Bloom's latest book deals with a familiar aspect of friendship: being leftout.
Author Notes
Suzanne Bloom is a winner of a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for A Splendid Friend, Indeed. She is the author and illustrator of many books for children. She lives with her family in McDonough, New York.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Just when Goose and Bear are finally getting the hang of friendship, Little Fox comes along and wants to play too. Unfortunately Little Fox seems determined to leave Bear out, declaring him "too big," "too grumpy," and finally "too far away." Loyal, sensitive Goose boldly stands up for Bear, insisting that if Fox wants to play, the newcomer must learn to play with Bear as well. Bright and cuddly illustrations done in pastels are so rich with texture that readers will want to reach out and touch them. Movement and expression in the characters are beautifully rendered and bring a lot of spirit and humor to the easy-to-read text. Fans of Goose and Bear from A Splendid Friend, Indeed (2005) and Treasure (2007, both Boyds Mills) will enjoy having them back.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Bear and Goose are playing puppets, but Fox wants to switch to a game that excludes Bear. As the characters navigate the two's-company/three's-a-crowd dynamic, it's occasionally unclear which animal is speaking. Set against a blue backdrop, Bloom's emotionally attentive pastels keep the reader's focus on the drama. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
A small red fox joins playmates Goose and Polar Bear, introduced in A Splendid Friend, Indeed (2005)setting up a "three's a crowd" conflict that even the still-diapered set will quickly recognize. Initial shyness dissipating quickly, Fox repeatedly announces "I want to play a new game." But Fox's hopscotch squares are too small for Bear, checkers is a two-player game and the telescope is a one-at-a-time sort of toy. Off Bear stomps in a huff, leaving Goose to make a choice. As before, Bloom poses shaggy figures against a rich blue color field and artfully uses body language rather than text (which runs to fewer than 100 words) to crank up the emotional intensity. Fox's sharp nose and bushy tail are particularly eloquent at expressing bossiness, lonely remorse after Bear and Goose depart and relief after Fox is invited back into the fold ("Bear is my big, old, sometimes grumpy friend," says Goose. "You can be our new friend") and curls up in Bear's lap to share a book. Another splendid outing, indeed. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
That dynamic duo Goose and Bear (A Splendid Friend Indeed, 2005, and Treasure, 2007) is back and more beguiling than ever. When Little Fox joins their games, Bear is the odd man out, being too big, too grumpy, and too far away for the games Little Fox has chosen. Goose acts as mediator, ultimately reaffirming his camaraderie with Bear while inviting Little Fox to be their new friend jumping rope and sharing a good read are activities in which they all can participate. The large format of the two previous Goose and Bear books is repeated, featuring the three characters and their limited accoutrements against a lush blue background. The simple text, in bold black or white type, is perfect for beginning readers and complements the glowing pastels, which so efficiently portray the trio's facial expressions and body language. Compare with Duck, Duck, Goose, by Tad Hills (2007), for another take on the three's-a-crowd situation.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2010 Booklist
