In this delightfully different alphabet book from the creator of Extraordinary Jane, a curious bear makes a new friend.
Suddenly "awake" in the middle of winter, a "big bear" explores a "cozy cabin," which Bear of course "enters excitedly." But the cabin isn't empty--a little girl lives there. So begins an unlikely friendship and an unexpected adventure as the girl attempts to figure out what a bear is supposed to be doing in the winter. (Hint: It's not eating pancakes or visiting the library!)
With her trademark humor and warmth, Hannah E. Harrison puts her own irresistible spin on the classic alphabet book. The result is a story families will treasure for years to come.
Awards and Recognitions:
Winner 2020 Oklahoma Book Award for Children’s Fiction
Winner 2020 Oklahoma Book Award for Illustration
Amazon Editor’s Pick
Kids’ Indie Next List Pick
Creative Women of Oklahoma Award for Illustration
Brightly’s Best Children’s and YA Books of November 2019
“★ The cleverness and humor of the words is matched by art that is painterly, adorably sweet, and laugh-out-loud funny . . . inspired by Helen Oxenbury’s ABC of Things (1971). It is a fitting tribute. A perfect a-bear-cedary.”
“★ The bear is adorably goofy, the palette soft and colorful, and the movements of the bear and the girl across the pages pull readers contentedly through the book. The underlying story of friendship and empathy is charming and the vocabulary accessible and informative . . . This is a must-buy for any parent, elementary, or juvenile collection, and teachers will find this a great model text for writing.”
“A girl and a bear star in Harrison’s tale that doubles as an alphabet book, letting even pre-readers follow the alphabetical story through the buoyant, expressive illustrations . . . The final page has no words, just a proud look on the girl’s face: mission accomplished.”
“★ Each letter describes elements of the duo’s journey, the dynamic illustrations proving of particular note as the bear awakens . . . Humorous facial expressions occur every step of the way, and the bear’s good-natured mayhem should draw smiles.”
“Inside are some delicious words for readers to try out . . . Harrison’s richly colored gouche illustrations are expressive . . . A sunny seasonal story to brighten a cold winter’s day. ”