What a fun book! This is on oversized picture book that is one you will want to pour over the pages with. Papa Bear goes looking for Little Bear and they wind up in the city and then at the opera house. The details in each picture area fantastic-I wanted to look at everything that was happening with all the characters-each scene has multiple stories happening all at once and it's fun to see what the surrounding characters are up. The book is also a seek and find as the reader is looking for Little Bear and the bee he is chasing on every page (and he's not always easy to spot!)A delightful book that is perfect for a lapsit reading with preschoolers and up. Papa Bear is just settling down to get ready for a long winter of hibernation when Little Bear gets other ideas and sets off after a bee. Papa Bear wakes up to find Little Bear gone and thus begins an adventure in which Papa Bear follows Little Bear into a big city and into the heart of an opera house. Little Bear is still following that bee and in each over-sized, detail-filled, double-page spread, readers can look for the little bear and bee. At his wits end, Papa Bear decides that the only way to get Little Bear to come to him is to sing a song, which captivates Little Bear. The story ends with them together, surrounded with the honey that Little Bear found by following the bee. Charming illustrations accompany the relatively simple text. The type set is very basic - kind of like an old fashioned typewriter, which serves to highlight the illustrations. While the story lends itself to the preschool audience, the complex illustrations are much better suited to an older audience. In one particular spread, Little Bear is really difficult to find, which would make the book difficult for preschoolers. Although, read together, caregiver and child can work together to find the Little Bear; however, the sheer amount of detail though may be too much for some. It would be a great read for a Bedtime Storytime, but I fear that the children may not be able to delve into the illustrations in that setting.
What do You think about Una Canzone Da Orsi (2011)?
Loved this book-- illustrations, story. Wish it had been around when my kids were little.
—keke
Each page is captivating. A beautiful, French "Where is Waldo?"....but with bears.
—shreya
Papa Bear travels far and wide to find his cub.
—Shikokunohana
These illustrations are ridiculously amazing.
—ephemelo
