A Visitor for Bear

My boys (now ages 10 & 8) and I absolutely adore this silly, touching story of Mouse and Bear!! It has been one of the books they have consistently asked me to read for years and will continue to be a favorite!

What a wonderful, marvelous book! I heard it read on the Radio and had to buy it for a little friend named Nicolas. He was not yet 3 y/o but sat intently and listened and mimicked the repetitive phases in the book. It is worth the read for all aged-children with lovely illustrations. There are many lessons-learned throughout this short book. Enjoy! Sherri Anderson, Bonita, CA

I have three kids, as many kids' bookshelves, and about a billion kids' books have passed through our house. There are many I love, but this book grabbed me in a way few have. I bought it on the spot, for no reason, and have spent many afternoons reading it to my kids (even the ones who might think they are "too old" for it seem to slowly get pulled in each time.) There was a staff review card attached to the shelf under this book, and I remember seeing the words "instant classic" written. No words could better describe this book, and I am waiting anxiously to see if more Bear and Mouse books are published.

Cute is hard. Picture book cute, that is. A lot of people might disagree with that, but I'm going to make a case here. There's a perception out there that if you slap a pair of big brown eyes and a furry tail on something, badda-bing! Instant adorable. Picture books, however, offer the greatest test any author or artist has to face. Because cute isn't just a visual state. It's reliant on a story that can be touching without becoming candy-coated and saccharine. It requires a certain level of restraint on both the author and the illustrator's part. Cute is hard to do and do well. Like I say, anyone can fake it and end up on a line of greeting cards, but very few people can make cute count for something. Bonny Becker can. With her remarkable "A Visitor for Bear," Becker teams with top notch illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton to bring us a book that actually goes on beyond "cute" into something more. This is a book that warms the cold cockles of even the grumpiest heart. People who cringe at the sight of "Bambi" and shudder at baby chicks will be instantly charmed by Becker and Denton's tale of a grump that learns that sometimes the right visitor is worth the vexation that comes with giving up your privacy. Bear's pretty good at keeping people away. No one ever visits him, and just in case one does he has a big sign in front that reads, "NO visitors allowed". Just in case. Everything is fine and dandy until one day a mouse "small and gray and bright-eyed" knocks on the door. Bear says in no uncertain terms that he is not keen on visitors. The mouse seems to understand, but when Bear attempts to get out a bowl for himself, there sits the mouse asking for a spot of tea. After throwing out the unwanted guest Bear tries to open his bread drawer next, and there again is the mouse! To Bear's increasing frustration the mouse is absolutely everywhere, and no amount of stoppering or locking keeps him away. At last, Bear consents to having a bit of tea with the miniscule visitor and soon discovers that the mouse is attentive, easily impressed, and laughs at Bear's jokes. And when it is time for the mouse to go, Bear finds himself unceremoniously ripping down the "NO visitors allowed" sign. After all, he says, that is a sign for salesmen. Not for friends. The book works because in the space of a mere 56 pages it establishes character and personality perfectly. In a way, this is a story of two fastidious creatures, one open to new friends and one not. It makes perfect sense to me that Bear and the mouse would get along. Just look at how they are presented. Bear lays out his single cup and single spoon with a delicacy at odds with his sheer mass. The mouse, similarly, is taken to speaking in polite, clipped tones. "Terribly sorry... Now you see me; now you don't. I am gone." I imagine him being voiced by Basil Rathbone, perhaps. And Bear would be John Houston. My boss read through this book and sighed with relief when h

I'm a parent and a longtime writer and editor who loves children's books -- even now that my own children are grown. So, the reason to buy this delightful new book is that it's quite simply a fun tale of two characters who spring to life so vividly that you'll want to enjoy this little slapstick adventure with Mouse and Bear over and over again. But I want to point out that there's a spiritual insight here. And I'm not calling it a "lesson," because that kind of "conclusion" would kill the light-as-a-feather fun in this book. But the insight about hospitality dawns toward the end of the book when the Bear suddenly discovers the reason that he shouldn't be so quick to try to kick out his plucky little visitor. It comes at the point when the weary Bear decides he must put up with his little guest -- then a realization hits him: This mouse actually wants to appreciate him and his home. The story says: "The mouse looked most attentive. No one had ever been most attentive to bear." It's the hinge of the story -- dropped so softly into the narrative that everything turns quite naturally. But the truth is -- a whole lot of people are talking, these days, about the need to reclaim the timeless spiritual truths of hospitality in a post 9/11 world. There are some very serious books for adults about "the sacred art" of hospitality. So, how do we explore those values as parents? Well, we tell stories. We read books. We weave a lively tapestry of tales. One excellent choice? Read someone you love, "A Visitor for Bear."

I bought this book for my children - a 2 yr old girl and an almost 5 year old boy - and they BOTH love it. Frankly, I love reading it. Even my husband enjoyed listening in to tonight's reading. The illustrations and the writing work really well together. The humour is obvious enough for the little ones with a little extra that makes it enjoyable for adults too. The vocabulary choices make it more interesting than many children's books. Accessible, but enough of a stretch that some new words are introduced. (like "whisked" (which my son loves)and "insufferable") It's just adorable and genuine. And I don't mind that it's become the new favorite (which means I can expect to be reading it every night for the next few weeks!)