Bear Noel

Bear Noel is a visual delight for readers that will take them well beyond the holiday season. Dunrea interlaces the magic of repetitive language with exquisite watercolor and gouache illustrations to create a cumulative tale that will appeal to a range of readers---both young and old! His artwork breathes life into the woodland characters as they await the arrival of Bear Noel. Readers can hear the hush found deep in the forest created by Dunrea's rich colors, animals with impeccible detail and landscape that defies the confines of the page. Surely, this book now holds the place of a holiday classic on my shelf.

Bear Noel is a Christmas delight. I shared it with my second grade class and they hung on every word. The children quickly chimed in on the repetitive parts. So we turned the story into a little "readers theater" with the children taking the part of the animals, acting out the story and speaking the lines. My children and I also loved the illustrations. The beautiful, snow filled pictures were serene and calming. The children just gasped at the beauty of the paintings as I turned each page. I also found the story to be charming. It carries a true Christmas message of Peace on Earth, when all the animals put away their quarrels and problems and find joy in celebrating the season together. I recomend Bear Noel, not just as a book to buy, but as a book to give. It is the perfect present for this holiday season.

Bear Noel by Olivier Dunrea is a delightful holiday book for young children. Bear Noel is coming to visit the animals of the forest for Christmas. Each page gives the animals a new clue of Bear Noel's presence and the fact that he is getting closer all the time. There is enought repetition for young children to join in the reading and plenty of interest to keep them wondering what will be the next clue. Will Bear Noel bring the animals a special Christmas surprise and what will it be? This book should be enjoyed by every young child, and young at heart adults also.