Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Searching... Stillwater Public Library | EASY DOD | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
A hilarious new picture book about a bear and a little boy's birthday party from acclaimed author and illustrator, Emma Dodd.
When an entertainer dressed as a big cuddly bear arrives at a little boy's birthday party, the children are delighted. He makes them hoot with laughter as he drinks water from the vase, goes wild on his skateboard, and bursts all the balloons. But for some reason, his costume won't come off... Acclaimed author and illustrator Emma Dodd has crafted a hilarious new story for young readers.
Author Notes
Emma Dodd is the acclaimed author and illustrator of several children's books including Forever and Cinderelephant. She lives in Surrey with her husband and two children, several chickens and their beloved occasional hat wearing Jack Russel Terrier, Bart, who keeps her fit and provides inspiration.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Everyone is excited when a bear-suited Entertainer arrives at Billy's birthday party. After helping himself to tea and biscuits, he proceeds to make a big mess by crashing through the house on a skateboard, glugging water and eating flowers, juggling fruit, popping balloons, and devouring the birthday feast before passing out on the table. While the children think he is "hilarious," Mom is definitely not amused. Only after this unique Entertainer has left do Billy's parents realize that they had a real bear in their home. The rhyming text is full of onomatopoeia that highlights the humor of the bear's antics, which are clearly illustrated with large, bold lines and figures. Though there are pop-out boxes with helpful reminders about the importance of cleaning up after oneself and chewing properly, the story is mostly about the ridiculous circumstance of a bear wreaking havoc to the delight of children at a birthday party. The silly situation and twist at the end will definitely elicit laughs. VERDICT A fun read for lovers of animal shenanigans.-Whitney LeBlanc, Staten Island Academy, NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Though Billy is delighted as a bear-costumed entertainer careens through the house on a skateboard, eating everything in sight and popping balloons at his birthday party, Billy's stunned and dismayed parents are happy to see him go, especially when the entertainer turns out to be an actual bear. Dodd's high-spirited illustrations with wide-eyed characters carry the singsongy text and predictable plot twist. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
When the family hires the man in the big, brown bear suit to entertain at Billy's birthday party, many surprises follow. He wears a little purple hat and is greeted with cheers by the party guests. After voraciously consuming the proffered tea and biscuits, he lets out a surprising "BURP!" (Both Mom and Dad notice his bad manners.) The children chase him through the door, and he slips on a skateboard, spinning and whirling before crashing into a lamp. The kids love it, but the parents are rather horrified, even more so when he eats a bunch of flowers and glugs down all the water in the jug. The children want to try on his suit, but they can't seem to get it off...or even find a zipper. The Entertainer finds the birthday spread and eats it all, triggering a big sprawling snooze right there on the table. (Luckily, Mom had put the cake in the fridge.) Frazzled Mom and Dad are exhausted by the end of the party, but Billy wants to have him back next year. The doorbell rings; who should be standing in the doorway but a real man in a bear suit. Dodd's illustrations are colorful, and her story rhymes briskly, with droll, two-couplet etiquette tips tucked into page corners. Children, of course, will have tumbled to the Entertainer's real identity long before the characters do. A pleasant party bonbon. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.