Review by Booklist Review
While trying to reach a honey pot on the mantelpiece, three young bears accidentally break their mother's prized blue seashell. Fearful of punishment, they leave their house and set out in a small sailboat to find a replacement shell. An old bear directs them to a distant island, but they find no blue shells there. Sailing off again, the unhappy bears encounter a storm. As they bicker about who is to blame for breaking the shell, the sea grows rougher and more frightening. But when each accepts responsibility, the water suddenly calms, and they find themselves near home again. As they reach the shore, they discover the perfect blue shell. Cocreator and illustrator of the Ladybug Girl series, Soman uses color with finesse in a visually impressive picture book that features striking seascapes and three childlike bear cubs. While the artwork is very effective, the rambling narrative doesn't always flow well. Still, both parents and children will find plenty to enjoy in this beautifully illustrated offering.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Soman, co-creator of the bestselling Ladybug Girl series, makes his first solo effort, one that gives his artwork plenty of opportunities to shine. Dash, Theo, and Charlie, three young bears, have broken their mother's treasured blue shell in an attempt to reach the honey jar on the mantel. Rather than confess (they're "Afraid of their mama, who, after all, was a bear"), they conspire to replace the shell before she gets home, setting off boldly to search for one in their sailboat. Their journey allows Soman to paint both comic vignettes (the bears meet a dory called "Melville" loaded with dogged-looking whalers and a harpoon) and breathtaking sea scenes as the bears get tossed by the huge green waves of a storm, meet some whales, and, in one particularly beautiful spread, sail along a glittering trail of light on the ocean waves. Soman manages to suggest the gentle colors and textures of old color lithography, giving the pages the feeling of a dog-eared vintage find. Although the artwork draws most of the attention, the understated writing and steady pacing offer solid support. Ages 3-5. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Breaking a prized blue seashell while their mother is away and knowing they'll be in big trouble, three mischievous bears set out to sea to find a replacement. The plot is simple, yet the bears don't find what they're looking for immediately. They search, fight with one another, and even get caught in the middle of a storm. Their adventures will keep readers interested, making the story a great read-aloud, and the mother bear will leave readers with an ending that will appease parents everywhere. The gorgeous, bright and detailed illustrations are a perfect fit for the text. A first purchase for all.-Brooke Rasche, La Crosse Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2014. 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.
