BOOKS

Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies

by Carmen OLIVER

illus. by Jean Claude. 32p. Capstone. Mar. 2016. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9781623706548.

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PreS-Gr 1—Mrs. Fitz-Pea (who wears blue cat's-eye glasses) needs to be convinced that bears make suitable reading buddies. Her student Adelaide convinces her that Bear is safe to have in the classroom by showing her how he makes reading fun (with cozy reading forts and loud roars of encouragement for pronouncing a hard word) and instructive (telling her to look at the pictures for clues and holding the book so they both can see it). "And if you get frustrated, they wrap you up in warm bear hugs." The pattern-filled illustrations show the two buddies getting lost in their stories and demonstrates how they search for their next good read. They add a great deal to the book's appeal.

VERDICT Full of useful yet subtle hints about how to make reading fun for both young and older reading buddies, this book will find a ready audience at storytime and is also wonderful for one-on-one sharing.

Reviewed by Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

Adelaide's teacher is assigning reading partners, but Adelaide chooses a bear because "bears make the best reading buddies." She argues that "bears know how to sniff out a good book with their super-powered snouts," etc. It's a bit contrived, but the narrative and homey illustrations have their moments, as when presenting the downside of reading with a sharp-clawed bear ("Rrriiip!").

, Jul 01, 2016

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