Jason's Bears

ISBN: 0786803568

Author: Bauer, Marion

Condition: Used

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 1-Jason loves bears. He reads about them, draws them, and even pretends to be one. Then his older brother Kurt tells him that there are bears living in the backyard, in the basement, in the hall closet, and even under Jason's bed, all of whom are eager to eat him. Terrified, the youngster decides he wants nothing more to do with his once-favorite animal. However, when Kurt makes him a Ginger Bear cookie, Jason chomps away at it, conquering his fears with each bite. Empowered, he scares the beasts away-all except for one that he invites to live under Kurt's bed. This delightful tale tackles two common childhood troubles-monsters and older siblings-and the protagonist's success is doubly pleasing. Bauer's descriptive text clearly sets the scene and the snappy kidlike dialogue begs to be read aloud. While the ending is reminiscent of that in Dick Gackenbach's Harry and the Terrible Whatzit (Clarion, 1979), it is sure to leave children cheering Jason's triumph and his sweet revenge on his brother. Hawkes's double-page acrylic paintings perfectly complement the text. The oversized bears of Jason's imagination realistically portray his fears while still capturing the story's humor. The brushstrokes are bold, the colors are intense, and the facial expressions are priceless. The inclusion of the Ginger Bear cookie recipe provides a perfect activity tie-in for storyhour groups.Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Product Description In a story about sibling rivalry, Jason loves to think, dream, and read about bears, until his older brother teases him about it, and Jason must find the courage to make up his own mind. From Publishers Weekly A bear fan from the word go, Jason's delight in all things ursine deflates when his older brother begins to turn his beloved bears into frightful apparitions. "The bear in the corner of the basement behind the furnace likes noses," Kurt tells his gullible sibling, elaborating on several imaginary fierce bears that lurk around the house. Jason's imagination runs away with him, and soon he's "trying not to think about bears." In a rather odd resolution, a bear-shaped gingerbread cookie (each bite bolsters his courage) helps Jason banish his fears and the scary bears. Bauer (If You Were Born a Kitten) pinpoints the empowerment that comes from overcoming childhood fears and enlivens the narrative with zippy descriptions (e.g., bears that "humphed and grumphed"). Hawkes (Weslandia) goes to town with the bear theme, outfitting Jason (? la Max in Where the Wild Things Are) in brown hooded jammies complete with bear ears, in a bedroom with bear wallpaper--even bear sheets and comforter. He also uses light and dark effectively, from the bear-shaped shadows that Kurt's hands cast on the walls to the grizzly shadow that Jason throws off as he eats the cookie and regains his nerve. A recipe for gingerbread bears is included. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews A child finds courage in a cookie and exacts sweet revenge on a pesky big brother, in this triumphant tale. Jason dotes on the big of bears, the brave of bears, the nobody-better-mess-with-me of bearsuntil brother Kurt tells him about the toe-nibbling bear in the back yard, the one in the basement that likes noses, and the big one right under his bed. However, Kurt's effort to cap the head game with a fierce looking gingerbread bear (recipe included, happily) backfires. Jason's fear disappears with the cookie, and as he chomps, off he stomps to roust out the lurking beasts. Lighting his scenes to create dark corners and looming shadows, Hawkes (Weslandia, 1999, etc) not only captures Jason's intense, though temporary, anxiety, but also provides actual bears for him to chase awayor in the case of the one under his bed, to suggest a move to under Kurts. Children, es