Title: Where, Oh Where, is baby bear?
Author & Illustrator: Ashley Wolf
Publisher: Beach Lane Books, 2017
Ages: 3-6
Themes: baby bear, hide-and-seek, games with mom, prepositions
Opening:
One by one, bats fly out of the deep, dark den.
“Where are they going?” asks Baby Bear.
“They are going to look for food,” says Mama Bear.
“Can we go look for food too?” asks baby Bear.
“Yes,” says Mama. “Let’s go.”
Synopsis:
When Mama and Baby Bear go out to look for food one night, curious Baby Bear wants to wander off and explore, and I think, intentionally play some hide & seek with his momma. Each time his Mama Bear calls for him, Baby Bear shows up in a different place.
Baby Bear is back in this companion to Baby Bear Sees Blue and Baby Bear Counts One.
Why I like this book:
Sweet repetitive narrative that will have great appeal to the very young listeners, who will be joining in the, “where, oh where, is Baby Bear?” refrain by the middle of the book. And name me a kid who does not enjoy peek-a book with a parent? I love how Mom is making believe each time that she doesn’t know exactly where her young offspring is.
This is a beautiful ode also to a black bear’s hunting rituals. The illustrations cover the entire double spreads and are lush and vibrant, with deep blue night tones. They are made by printing linoleum block in black on Arches Cover paper, then hand-coloring them with watercolor. Such an intense creative process but with truly stunning nighttime nature scenes.
An adult sharing this book with a child balances the Mama Bear/Baby Bear relationship of developing independence and maternal protection.
Activities/resources:
- This is a great tool to introduce prepositions to young readers as baby Bear hides: inside a mossy log; up in a birch tree; on top of the boulder…..
- Get outside and have some hide-and-seek fun with your students/kids.
- Don’t miss this interview I did with Ashley a couple of years ago.
Each week a group of bloggers reviews picture books we feel would make great educational reads. To help teachers, caregivers and parents, we have included resources and/or activities with each of our reviews. A complete list of the thousands of books we have reviewed can be found sorted alphabetically and by topics, here on Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
Another beautiful book by Ashley Wolf. Her artwork is so unique and certainly adds to the appeal. And children do love repetition. I have some young greats that would adore this book.