Synopsis
Bear has a habit of waking up with a growling tummy. He also has the habit of thinking up big ideas. With the help of his friends, Buck and Moose, he builds a boat in the summer and then an ice shanty in the winter so they can fish and feast! This Step 2 Write-In Reader includes writing and drawing activities just right for budding young writers.
Sara Lorimer - Children's Literature
This "Write-in Reader" is difficult to classify. The story is at the level of a picture book, but the fill-in-the-blank pages are aimed at kids who are learning how to write. Every page has a full-color illustration, which might make it tricky for children who are just learning to make the distinction between coloring books and storybooks. Bear and his friends Buck and Moose make a boat, go fishing, catch some junk, eventually reel in some fish and eat them. Bear hibernates then wakes up hungry and they go fishing again and eat the fish they catch. Bear goes to sleep again. "Bear is hungry. He is hungry for fish," is about as exciting as it gets. Every few pages has a space for the child to fill in a blank with a word or a drawing. Although writing interesting books with a limited vocabulary aimed at beginning readers can be a challenge, there is no reason to settle for this level of mediocrity. It is barely above the Dick and Jane level. Recommended for people who want to encourage their children to write in their books. 2005, Random House, Ages 2 to 6.