Little Bear's Friend

I am amazed at the sort of complex storytelling that Ms. Minarik can accomplish with fairly simple words. [Why can't more modern authors accomplish the same?!?] In this book, Little Bear finds two new friends, a little girl named Emily and her doll, Lucy. Together they have adventures which include going to a party, a broken arm for Lucy, and tragedy of tragedies... Emily's having to go away at the end of summer to attend school. Five Stars. Wonderful storytelling. Good Read-aloud. I would estimate that this "I Can Read" book is on the first grade level. [Other sources list it as a second grade reader: 2.2 Level.] Principally the difficulty lies not in the vocabulary but in the fact that there is quite a bit of dialog and more words per page than is found in Ms. Minarik's earlier stories.

These stories about Little Bear and his friend Emily are a charming introduction to the world of reading for beginners. Little Bear is a sweet child to his mother and father and a good friend to Duck, Hen, Owl and Cat. Minarik's simple narrative will be easy enough for early readers, and Sendak's illustrations will hold their attention. The four stories are: Little Bear and Emily, about the friends' meeting; Duck, Baby Sitter; The Party at Owl's House, in which Lucy falls from a tree; and "Your Friend, Little Bear", about Little Bear's coping when Emily goes away for the school year.

I just found this book in a used book store recently and I am thrilled! I remember Little Bear so well from childhood. I bought the book and it proudly sits on my shelf waiting for the day when I have a child to share it with. This book will give you warm fuzzys! Else has created a wonderfully warm, sweet and adorable book with cute characters.You and your child will really enjoy it! Don't pass it up!