IF THE BOOK FITS...READ IT

Amos & Boris

AUTHOR: William Steig 

ILLUSTRATOR: William Steig 

ISBN#: 978-0374403607 

PUBLISHER/YEAR: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (September 1, 1992) (Orig pub 1971) 

SUBJECTS: Friendship, Animals - Mice, Animal - Whales, Determination, Teamwork 

READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK 

RATING: **** 

Review Highlights:

Laugh Meter	not a comedy	giggles	laugh out loud	can’t stop laughing
Fear Factor	no fear	needs explanation	cover the eyes	bad dreams
Subject Matter	light : “G”	mild concerns	caution ahead	needs supervision

A sweet, old-fashioned story of friendship between a mouse and a whale. Mouse Amos and whale Boris meet up after Amos' boat capsizes and Boris saves him. Boris deposits the little mouse back on land and bids farewell, sadly, because they have become the closest possible friends. Amos is grateful for Boris' help and just wishes someday he might help Boris too. Amos isn't sure how a little mouse would ever be able to help a giant whale, but he knows he would like to. 

When a storm beaches Boris on Amo's beach, Amos gets his chance to help. Surprisingly, just when Boris thought it was all over for him, Amos shows up with two of the biggest elephants he could find to get the whale back in the water. Amos & Boris is a simple, well-meaning, well-written tale of friendship and caring; told by a veteran story-teller at his finest. The quaint, soft, watercolor illustrations provide a welcome respite in this age of video in full technicolor. 

IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY: 

SYLVESTOR AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE, William Steig 

BRAVE IRENE, William Steig

A Visitor for Bear

AUTHOR: Bonnie Becker

ILLUSTRATOR: Kady MacDonald Denton

ISBN#: 978-0763628079PUBLISHER/YEAR: Candlewick/2008

SUBJECTS: Friendship, Animals: Bears, Animals: Mice

READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK

RATING: **** 

Review Highlights:

Laugh Meter	not a comedy	giggles	laugh out loud	can’t stop laughing
Fear Factor	no fear	needs explanation	cover the eyes	bad dreams
Subject Matter	light : “G”	mild concerns	caution ahead	needs supervision

When you combine a reclusive bear and a persistent mouse, the end result is this very delightful picture book. Bear enjoys the company of one, until Mouse shows up and won't go away. When Mouse knocks on the front door, Bear politely refers to the sign on the front door that clearly states, "No Visitors Allowed." This, however, does not deter Mouse. When Bear goes back to the business of making breakfast after the initial interruption, Mouse pops out of the cupboard and asks Bear,"..for a spot of tea?".  Bear promptly shows him the door. 

Things go on amusingly like this for a while, until Bear finally gives up trying to rid himself of Mouse. Bear declares, "I give up...You win. I am undone." Bear agrees to a small visit of tea, cheese and a fire. But then Mouse must go. The visit goes swimmingly. This turn of events causes Bear to comes to his senses and realize how nice it is to have a visitor. The sign comes down and a beautiful friendship is born. 

The children will delight in Mouse's comic persistence and parents will enjoy the positive example of growth that takes place for Bear, who realizes being a friend and enjoying the company of others is actually a very good thing.

The illustrations and language are both equally gorgeous. A Visitor for Bear is a wonderful read-aloud for your younger readers. The adult reader will also have a most enjoyable time reading it.

Click here to link to a podcast of an NPR segment, where the children's book author, Daniel Pinkwater, reads, discusses and recommends A Visitor for Bear.

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Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole, Wong Herbert Yee