Bear Wants to Sing
-
- $10.99
-
- $10.99
Publisher Description
Bear wants to sing his song, but the other animals won't give him a chance to perform his masterwork in this delightful picture book companion to the critically acclaimed King Mouse.
A bear finds a ukulele in the woods. It makes a nice sound -- PLINK! -- and inspires him to write his own song. His friend Mouse would love to hear it. But Bear isn't the only animal in the forest to find musical inspiration that day, and Snake, Crow and Tortoise keep taking his turn to perform. When they finally give him the opportunity and meet his song with less enthusiasm than he'd like, the discouraged bear shelves his music career forever . . . but the kindness, empathy and appreciation of his best friend will prove that his art deserves recognition and can even inspire others.
This dryly humorous and sweetly profound collaboration between two critically acclaimed children's book creators, a follow-up to the masterful King Mouse, has the makings of a modern classic.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When a young tricyclist loses their cargo, musical instruments bounce into the grass unnoticed. Strumming a newfound ukulele, Bear requests an audience, to which a long-tailed mouse gladly agrees. But before Bear can begin, a crow alights and, with a newly grasped tambourine, sings first. This routine continues as Bear is cut off in turn by a snake, a tortoise, and a fox before finally getting the chance in a song well worth waiting for. But a tepid response results in Bear trudging off to lick his wounds—with the ever-supportive Mouse close behind. Fagan presents rich, dialogue-heavy text, infused with lilting rhyme schemes, onomatopoeia, and a humor that builds throughout. (Bear's song, in particular, will draw laughs.) Seiferling's dreamy graphite, digitally colored illustrations feature expressive anthropomorphic critters against intricately detailed landscapes. This tender tale of creativity, manners, and nurturing friendship by the creators of King Mouse has all the makings of a contemporary classic. Ages 3–7.
