Review by Horn Book Review
In the latest installment of this enjoyable early chapter book series (Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories, rev. 5/23), an average Tuesday takes a few minor twists and turns for the titular best friends. In "The Nothing" -- the first of four brief, episodic chapters -- Bear visits Bird for their weekly cloud-watching expedition. Bird is under the weather; Bear outdoes himself trying to comfort her but finally lets her voice her own desire to rest, and the two share cozy, quiet moments doing nothing. Rejuvenated, Bird rallies for the remaining three stories, in which the duo faces additional low-stakes conflicts while traveling about their forested neighborhood. As usual, they watch their good intentions land slightly off-target; memorably, while attempting to fend off a rival best friend, Bird performs an original, unintentionally offensive song entitled "Oh, What a Smelly Bear." Jarvis approaches these misunderstandings with gentle humor; his resolutions never feel condescending or prescriptive. The loose-lined, textured, and occasionally fanciful art also helps maintain a playful tone. Bear and Bird's everyday exploits -- and their canny, child's-eye perspective on conflict resolution -- continue to be witty, tender, and surprising. Jessica Tackett MacDonaldMarch/April 2025 p.72 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
BFFs Bird and Bear continue to care for each other. Bird is ill, so Bear kindly provides "chips, chewy things, soup, custard, beans, [and] a cheese soufflé." He also offers to readThe Complete History of Spoons (and to do "all the voices") and to perform "The Dance." Bird, wrapped in a blanket and looking peaked, politely declines. Bird wants "nothing," but as Bear leaves, discouraged, she asks, "Could you donothing here with me?" Bear is delighted: "It's one of the things I'm best at." By the next story, Bird has recovered, but on a cloud-watching walk, the pals find a hole with a sign: "DO NOT GO IN THE HOLE." The friends end up separated. Bird erroneously comes to believe that Bear is in the hole and, while trying to extricate him, falls in herself. Luckily Bear is nearby and comes to the rescue. In "The Mole," a new character arrives and threatens Bird and Bear's pair-bond. Jealous Bird tries rude behavior to get Mole to leave. When that only makes Mole laugh, she mocks Bear to get more laughs, and Bear leaves--until the two set things right. In the final tale, Bear and Bird salvage a dud day through cheerful goodwill. Once more, Jarvis expertly weaves humor and heart into these friendship tales, resulting in a work that's sweet yet never overly sentimental, brought to life by quirky illustrations. The ups and downs of friendship, delivered with wit and whimsy.(Chapter book. 5-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
