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Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing

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Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing

Hardcover

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Hardcover
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Overview

An unhurried fishing trip, with blueberry scones in tow, introduces a new bear duo sure to charm fans of Little Bear and Frog and Toad.

One day Big Bear says to Little Bear,
I’m just in the mood for fishing.
Me, too, says Little Bear. Just in the mood.

With this decided, Big Bear and Little Bear are off… almost. First they need the right attire, poles in a red wagon, a basket of freshly-baked scones, and a good book to read. It’s unclear how much real fishing will get done today, but one thing’s for sure: there will be a cozy nap in the hammock at the end.

Adults who grew up with classic stories about friendship and caring will feel an immediate resonance in the low-stakes adventures of these two adorable bears. Amy Hest’s wry text sets a pitch-perfect mood, and Caldecott Medalist Erin Stead brings fine art to each bucolic illustration. Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing is a treat for all ages and is sure to find a treasured place on shelves for years to come.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Product Details
About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823449750
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	05/21/2024
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	65,631
Product dimensions:	7.88(w) x 10.06(h) x 0.42(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Amy Hest's many acclaimed children's books include the BUNNY SHOULD BE SLEEPING, New York Times bestseller KISS GOOD NIGHT, and SOMETIMES IT’S NICE TO BE ALONE. A three-time winner of the prestigious Christopher Award, she lives in New York City.

Erin Stead is the illustrator of many picture books, including the Caldecott Medal–winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee, If You Want to See a Whale, The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, and The Sun is Late and So is the Farmer. She lives in northern Michigan with her husband, author/illustrator Philip Stead.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

★ 02/19/2024
As Big Bear and Little Bear stand together in their pajamas, Big Bear peers down at Little Bear. “I’m just in the mood for fishing,” Big Bear says, and Little Bear agrees—“Me, too.... Just in the mood.” Delicate pencil and watercolor vignettes by Caldecott Medalist Stead follow the two as they get ready, then gather needed items for the outing. Simple, reiterative phrases from Hest (Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone) convey easy familiarity and slow the pace (“Poles, says Big Bear. Fishermen need poles. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Poles”) as the bears decide that they can’t go fishing without scones, then pick blueberries, mix batter, and add a book to their wagon (“Now they are really, truly ready for fishing”). Though Big Bear registers visually as a caregiver, the two feel more like equals; Little Bear, for example, remembers to use a quiet voice for fishing when Big Bear forgets. Throughout an expedition in which nothing goes quite according to plan, satisfaction lies in the quality of seemingly limitless time the two bears share, a perception underscored by images that convey meditative calm. Together, the creators craft a world that never moves any faster than its characters want it to. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

★ "This tale has all the hallmarks of a family classic."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "Throughout an expedition in which nothing goes quite according to plan, satisfaction lies in the quality of seemingly limitless time the two bears share, a perception underscored by images that convey meditative calm. Together, the creators craft a world that never moves any faster than its characters want it to."—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Plenty of cozy fun, and echoes of Winnie-the-Pooh’s exploits ripple through the gentle, low-stakes adventure."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"It’s hard to imagine a nicer day than this."—The Horn Book

"From the understated text to the spare but pleasant illustrations, created with expressive lines and watercolor washes, everything about this quiet, satisfying picture book fits together beautifully."—Booklist

From the Publisher

★ 2024-02-17
Quiet contentment is the name of the game in this gentle tale of fish and scones.
Big Bear wants to go fishing, and so does Little Bear. They dress for the occasion, but are they ready? “Almost.” They need poles (“Almost”), then snacks (“Almost”), then a big green book of stories. Ready at last, they get into their rowboat and wait, but nothing’s biting. Scones are noshed. Stories are read. And at last, one big fish does swim around them for a while before leaving. Then it’s time to go home and nap together on the big hammock. With prodigious skill, Hest employs the quiet repetitions that make reading a book aloud a joy. “Poles, says Big Bear. Fishermen need poles. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Poles.” “Scones, says Big Bear. Fishermen need nice, warm blueberry scones. Oh yes, says Little Bear. Scones.” Stead, meanwhile, makes great use of vast white spaces, filling them with bees, clouds, and two bears with great affection for one another. Their love is evident as Big Bear holds Little Bear closely after the cub takes a flying leap into the boat. This tale has all the hallmarks of a family classic.
A loving look at failing at fishing in the best possible way. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

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