Review by Booklist Review
A simple rhyming text and big, happy pictures fill up the pages of this father-son lovefest. A bear cub goes through the day with his dad, starting when he gets awakened with a nose tickle and a kiss. Then it's out to explore, have a honey snack (Watch my dad run when the bees want it back! ), and swim in the river. Children will especially respond to the scenes of Dad holding his cub in a cave as a thunderstorm rages, then the pair dancing between drops as the rain diminishes. Appealing to the best emotions that kids have about their fathers, this will make for a nice sharing experience. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2007 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Ritchie (What Bear Likes Best!) introduces one lucky cub: his daddy bear is a bit goofy (he likes to play in the rain), confidently protective (his thick coat makes a good hiding place during a thunderstorm), always ready for adventure (whether it's swimming in the river or exploring the forests) and a great storyteller. "My dad is the best/ daddy bear there could be," reads the text, as the young ursine narrator and his father cuddle under a blanket. "We're together forever-/my dad and me." Edgson (The Emperor's New Clothes) lifts this familiar tribute book above the ordinary with her impressionistic settings and backgrounds. The artist portrays the rain-drenched forest, for example, through gradations of gauzy lavenders, blues and yellows, while only hinting at the trees. At the same time, her bears possess a strong sense of physicality and strength. Their coats may be golden and velvety, but their surprisingly lanky bodies exude an easygoing boisterousness that feels distinctly, authentically and joyfully male. Ages 3-7. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-From being awakened in the morning with a tickle on his nose and a kiss, to stories and cuddles at night, to spending their days enjoying and exploring their forest home, a bear cub loves spending time with his dad. Told in rhyme, the story conveys the love a parent has for a child, as well as a child's admiration for his father. The colorful, double-page acrylics give the story movement and aid in visually describing the pair's activities and relationship. The artwork is bright, with soft, rounded edges, and the bears are depicted realistically yet are not at all frightening. The artwork, combined with the story elements, makes this a title worthy of purchase.-G. Alyssa Parkinson, Highland Township Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A playful and loving father and son spend a delightful day bonding together, from a wake-up nose tickle to a final nighttime cuddle. Narrated by the son, the gentle rhyming text highlights the best parts of the day for him . . . and the best traits of his dad. "We race to the river / and Dad jumps straight in. / I climb on his back / and we go for a swim." The two dodge raindrops, search for hidden wonders, find honey, hide from a thunderstorm and tell stories. Throughout, it's obvious that Dad is a hero to his son for his strength, dependability, knowledge of forest secrets and for the security and fun that he brings to his child's life. Edgson's full-bleed illustrations render the father and son duo as cuddly Teddy bear-like figures with wonderfully expressive faces. She perfectly captures the energy, exuberance and joy of the bears as they spend their day together. More and more titles are emerging that celebrate the special bond between fathers and their children; this one adds beautifully to that genre. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
