Mr. Bear Squash-You-All-Flat

My friend let me read her copy from childhood. I was hooked this is a must have for any library. Great book.

Woo HOO! In Publishers Weekly I saw that this was back in print. I have 2 disintegrating copies -- the original beloved of the six of us from childhood, and another that I grabbed at a garage sale. The image of that cross old bear padding along in the moonlight is unforgettable, and the expression, "And there was the tire, the same as ever", I have laughingly used throughout my life when faced with something that prevailed, no matter what. And to hear our mum read aloud about that "very large and very stupid bear," when the word "stupid" was a no-no in our household -- oooh, edgy! but somehow fond and right. The story conveys compassion for a dimwitted bully who lumbers away unable to do damage, while the meek inherit the earth. Yes!!!

This was my favorite book as a child. I looked for 15 years for this book and finally found a bookstore who knew what I was talking about. I asked that they find the book. One year passed and I got a call saying they were trying to find the book for me and were not sure they could find one in good condition. That was in October and I had been saving my quarters to pay for the book. I did not hear anything from them and on Christmas morning I opened my gifts and there was the book Mr.Bear Squash You All Flat. My husband got the call that the book had been found and bought it for me. I am a principal in an elementary school and read the story to the children and we talk about the language in the book, such as Neighborhood Nusiance, harms way and Modern. It really does lend to a lot of discussion. My version is the 1950 edition, but I am buying the new version for my grandchildren.

After looking for this book on the internet and used bookstores for the past two years - and finding that the cheapest auctions were selling the original 1950's version off in the $300 range, I can't tell you how happy I was to find this anniversary reprint. I don't know much about it, and I don't know that this review will help anyone, but all I can say is my mom went nuts when I gave it to her. If you have a Baby Boomer in your life that had this book as a kid, they'll love to see it again.