Available:*
Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33607003501353 | Picture Books | BURGESS | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Bound With These Titles
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Summary
Summary
The Bear and the Moon is a picture book that follows what happens when the gift of a balloon floats into Bear's life.
The two companions embark on a journey--a magical tale that encompasses the joys of friendship and discovery.
This is a gentle book filled with humor, while tackling complex topics like the transcendence of loss and forgiveness.
* Filled with emotive text and radiant illustrations
* Simply told and profoundly felt
* Award winning author-illustrator team
The Bear and the Moon is a compassionate tale that honors the small but profound world of the very young.
This sweet book teaches social and emotional skills to kids, and offers a clever way to soothe some of our most difficult feelings: loss and guilt.
* Just as ideal for gently soothing young readers to sleep as it is for encouraging a contemplative break from an energetic day
* Great for parents, grandparents, and caregivers looking for a beautiful friendship or bedtime story
* Resonates year-round as a go-to gift for birthdays, holidays, and more
* Perfect for children ages 3 to 5 years old
* Add it to the shelf with books like Waiting by Kevin Henkes, Emily's Balloon by Komako Sakai, and Stellaluna by Janell Cannon.
Author Notes
Catia Chien was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, and now works in New York, with a view of the East River and an old pencil factory. Her children's book titles include an Ezra Jack Keats Honor winner, Things to Do , and an ALA Schneider Family Book award winner, A Boy and a Jaguar.
Matthew Burgess is an assistant professor at Brooklyn College and a poet-in-residence in NYC schools through Teachers & Writers Collaborative. His award-winning first children's book, Enormous Smallness: A Story of E. E. Cummings , was a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALA Notable Children's Book. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--A simple red balloon provokes joy, shock, sadness, and, ultimately, peace in this tone poem to kinship. The titular bear discovers a red balloon and immediately delights in it. "What a nice thing! What a wonderful thing! /What a squishable, huggable thing!" The balloon becomes a companion, and the bear eats, sleeps, and even sits "on the pot" with it. Then, in a playful moment, the balloon suddenly pops. After a period of denial, the bear falls into depression and self-loathing. Only the majesty of the full moon can help soothe the bear into a peaceful sleep, dancing with its beloved balloon in happy memories. Chien works with a primarily red and blue color palette in her mixed media illustrations. The simplicity of the outlines and colors create some truly lovely spreads, and the little bear is a charmer. Through the bear's expressive face, young children can easily discern and relate to many emotions. VERDICT Spare text and simple illustration will immerse listeners at story times in this quiet take on love and loss.--Jessica Ko, Los Angeles P.L.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Burgess (Drawing on Walls: A Life of Keith Haring) and Chien (The Town of Turtle) add savor to a simple story with visceral writing and elemental artwork. A red balloon floats toward a young black bear: "It was red as a berry and round like the moon with a long silver string drifting brightly in the breeze." The bear's roly-poly body provides a cozy counterpoint to the balloon's smooth surface. The two engage in a pas de deux--"When he walked, it walked. When he danced, it danced"--until a too-eager bear hug ends the balloon's short life. The animal is stricken ("Bad bear, he thought. Bad, bad bear") until comfort arrives from another sky-given orb, which "reached down to him and gently stroked his fur." Chien creates each spread with a sense of freshness, giving the expressive bear's world an ancient feel with long horizons and sheets of color. Burgess writes with nimble emotionality; sprightly phrases lead up to the balloon's demise ("What a wonderful thing! What a squishable, huggable thing!"), and genuine mourning occurs after. Together, the creators deliver an essential message of self-acceptance: "Good bear. Kind bear. Don't worry, bear." Ages 3--5. Author's agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary Studio. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Sept.)