Merry Helps Pip Embrace the Water in Don't Be Afraid, Little Pip

Several years ago, I discovered the series of Bear books by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. These charming stories for the 3- to 7-year-old set merge gentle rhyme and repetition with warm, endearing paintings, and I’ve found each installment just as enjoyable as the last. While I’ve read several of Wilson’s other books, she usually works with a different illustrator outside of the Bear series, so I was excited to find Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip, a story about a penguin, and discover that Pip, too, is the star of her own book series written by Wilson and illustrated by Chapman.

Unlike Bear Snores On and subsequent books in that series, Wilson uses prose for Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip. She does include a brief bit of verse as the penguins sing of the joys of swimming and other birds sing of the joys of flying, but for the most part, each page includes two or three short paragraphs, much of it dialogue.

In the middle section of the book, Pip wanders off on her own and encounters a petrel and an albatross, and each of them, despite expressing doubts as to whether this will work, issues instructions about how to fly, since she finds that more appealing than swimming. Wilson gives us a good sense of how these birds take flight, while Chapman paints them in intricate detail. It’s easy to see the differences among these three birds.

I love that this is such a different setting from the woodlands Wilson and Chapman usually tread together. One can almost feel the ocean breeze and smell the salty spray while perusing Chapman’s paintings with their varying shades of cool blue, and Pip and her fellow young penguins are adorably awkward as they waddle across the beach.

As an avid Lord of the Rings fan, one thing I love about this book is the fact that Pip’s first friend, the one who eventually helps her through a perilous situation, is named Merry. Coincidence? Perhaps, but even though these penguins are female, it’s easy to draw a parallel between the pairs, especially since Pip seems to be just a bit younger than everyone else. She needs a firm friend to help her face her fears, and one gets the sense that many adventures await these two. Like Bear Feels Scared, this book celebrates the power of friendship to bring one strength in the midst of a frightening situation.

Penguins have become pretty popular subjects for picture books lately, in part due to the success of March of the Penguins and Happy Feet. Children who have embraced Bear and his friends are likely to find just as much to love in this, one of the cutest penguin books I have encountered.

Mice Assist a Glorious Goose in The Snow Angel

In the past few years, I have become a big fan of illustrator Jane Chapman, whose sweet paintings have graced the pages of many picture books, including Bear Snores On, Bear Stays Up For Christmas, Bear Wants More, Bear's New Friend, Bear Feels Sick, Mortimer’s Christmas Manger and The Very Snowy Christmas.

Her most frequent collaborator is Karma Wilson, but she has worked with other authors as well. The Snow Angel teams her up with Christine Leeson, who has half a dozen book credits to her name. I hadn’t read her work before, but I want to now that I’ve read this tender tale.

The book is eye-catching right from the start, with the cover page featuring a white goose whose feathers are augmented with glitter. Blue-green sparkles glint throughout the book, adding an extra bit of magic to this endearing story. The goose is the “snow angel,” so described by Sam and Daisy, the pair of mice who discover her injured and separated from her flock. The two mice live with their mother and, after collecting nuts and berries for their Christmas dinner, they opt to play in the swirling snow, which leads them to the goose.

While most of Wilson’s stories are written in verse, Leeson sticks with prose here. The writing is simple but artful as she describes the ways in which the mice offer aid to the poor lost creature. It’s the illustrations that really make an impact here, though. Chapman has a real knack for drawing expressively adorable animals, especially mice. Meanwhile, the “angel” looks truly majestic, especially in one gorgeous two-page spread in which she opens her wings and flies off into the sunset.

This book reminds me a bit of Aesop’s fable of the mouse and the lion. Of course, these mice are never in any danger from the goose, but they certainly do demonstrate to her that little friends may prove great friends indeed. A warm story of hospitality and kindness, The Snow Angel is a fine addition to any Christmas shelf.

Summer Fun's Around the Bend When Bear Makes a Brand-New Friend

I first came upon Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman's Bear books a couple years ago when I saw a selection of them being sold for five dollars a piece as part of a pre-Christmas Kohl's Cares for Kids promotion. I've enjoyed the wintry Bear Snores On and Bear Stays Up for Christmas and the springish Bear Wants More, and my most recent trip to the library yielded last year's Bear's New Friend, which brings the beloved Bear and his ensemble of woodland companions together again for a sun-soaked summery story with just a hint of mystery.

The tale begins, as usual, in Bear's den. On this occasion, Bear is wide awake, and with the verdant flower-flecked grass just inches away, it's little wonder he feels the urge to emerge from his home for some outdoor activity. He's got plenty of friends in the forest, so he's sure he won't be short on playmates, but his curiosity is aroused when he hears a noise nearby. "And the bear asks, 'Who?'" This is the refrain that is repeated throughout the book, each time Bear sees or hears evidence of an unfamiliar, reclusive creature. The mystery deepens as his friends join him one by one, and it persists until nearly the end of the book, when the stranger reveals himself.

Chapman's acrylic illustrations are as adorable as ever. Shaggy Bear, dainty Mouse, wise Badger, timid Mole... the furry friends are all smiles, except when they're puzzling over the strange circumstances. The book is very heavy on the green tones, with grass and leaves everywhere in a variety of shades. We also see a lot of blue: the cloudless sky, several butterflies, the swimming hole. The liberal use of these colors gives the book a rich, vibrant feel.

Wilson's rhymes, meanwhile, usually four lines to a page, are marked by simple words and irresistible cadence: "Bear calls, 'Is that Mouse / who hides in the tree?' / But Mouse scurries up / and squeaks, 'It's not me!'" As the interrogative refrain repeats throughout the book, the typeface on this sentence becomes larger and larger, reflecting Bear's growing curiosity and his frustration that his friendly overtures are evidently being rejected.

Bear's New Friend is a fine addition to the collection of Wilson / Chapman collaborations. Artful and endearing, it allows children to visit once more with these woodland friends while encouraging them not to overlook potential playmates just because they might be a little shy.

I Can't Help But Adore Bear Wants More

I recently finished reading Pooh's Workout Book, a humorous tome in which a Visitor to the Hundred Acre Wood attempts to persuade its residents to take up an exercise regimen. Oh, Pooh makes a valiant effort to come up with a legitimate workout. But somehow, when it comes down to it, all his exercises seem to revolve around eating...

In Bear Wants More, eating is the first thing on Bear's mind. This burly beast has just woken up from a long winter's nap. With the combination of his bulk and the amount of time that must have passed since his last meal, it's no wonder Bear is ravenous. Right away, he eats his front yard - that is, all the grass growing in front of his cave. But that's not nearly enough to satisfy such a hungry hibernator. No, indeed... The bear wants more!

This refrain is repeated throughout the book as Bear's friends happen by and tempt him with promises of food in other parts of the forest. Strawberries! Clover! Fish! Bear gobbles up the goodies gratefully, enjoying the company of jubilant Mouse, gregarious Hare and sage Badger. But even after all this feasting, poor Bear's tummy is still all a-grumble. Isn't there anything that will quench his appetite?

Karma Wilson's sweet and funny story ripples along on the rhythm of her engaging verse. For instance: "Bear sniffs and he snuffles / as a sweet breeze blows. / He romps to his home. / He follows his nose." Generally, there are four lines to a page, and the writing is fairly large, growing bigger or smaller periodically for emphasis.

Complementing Wilson's text are Jane Chapman's endearing pictures, which show us the bright, verdant woods, the blue, splashy pond and the dim, homey cave. The characters are adorable: multi-colored Badger with his fishing pole; off-white, bouncy Hare; tiny tan Mouse, whose whiskers are as long as his tail; drowsy, daisy-laden Mole; handy Gopher; flying buddies Raven and Wren...

But the cuddliest of all is enormous Bear, whose plaintive pleas will earn the empathy of many a child who has desired a snack at an odd time. He often looks perplexed, wondering why his belly just won't fill up. Other times, he grins toothily, drinking in the beauty of the day. In the very beginning, he yawns widely, a gesture that could almost look intimidating if we weren't already so sure of Bear's gentle nature.

I'm used to seeing Bear and his friends in winter, having read Bear Snores On and Bear Stays Up For Christmas. It's nice to see him in his element here, not struggling to stay awake, free to wander the woods with no weather worries. Bear Wants More is a charming story for anyone who has ever wanted to say, "Please, sir, I want some more!"

Kids Are Adoring This Bear Who Is Snoring

It's January, and the weather outside is the sort that makes me seriously consider hibernation as a winter occupation. Oh, it's beautiful outdoors... but sooo cold. And the temptation is great to pile on the fleece blankets in substitution for a heavy coat of shaggy fur. This contemplation is silly, of course; I can't afford to sleep through the winter. And though it's in his nature to let those snowy days pass by as he naps, Bear, the charming star of three Karma Wilson books, has reason to stay awake for at least one winter occasion as well. If only it weren't so hard to do...

In Bear Snores On, the first of Karma Wilson's inspired collaborations with illustrator Jane Chapman, we come upon Bear in his cave, slumbering away. He certainly doesn't look too intimidating all snuggled up like that, but this is a very large creature, so we wonder a bit at the boldness of all the small animals that gather in his lair for a little get-together. First tiny, delicate Mouse, then gregarious Hare and generous Badger show up to get the party started, and soon they are joined by Gopher, Mole, Raven and Wren. Soon they're all huddled together by a crackling fire. But have they forgotten whose home they have crashed? What will happen if Bear wakes up?

I can't decide which part of this book entrances me more, the writing or the illustrations. Chapman's acrylics are warm and inviting - except for the snow, which is frigidly blustery - and her furry friends expressive and cuddly. The central position of the teapot atop the bubbling fire and the fact that three species prominently featured in Brian Jacques' Redwall series are included makes me think of England, which is appropriate since Chapman is English, though Wilson is American. Her lilting rhymes, along with the repeated phrase of "the bear snores on," draw the reader in as cozily as the fire the furry fellows build. The story is simple, but it weaves an undeniable enchantment that is especially impressive considering that this is Wilson's first book.

Because we do not actually meet Bear in an awake form until the end of the book, there is a degree of suspense here. We don't know for sure if the animals know Bear and feel comfortable sharing his home or if they just assume that he won't wake up so they don't need to worry about it. Our initial encounter with the suddenly wakened Bear is intimidating. But given the tone of the rest of the book, I doubt this page will cause too much of a fright for youngsters, especially since it follows a gigantic-sized sneeze likely to provide enough giggles to last for a couple of pages.

This is the perfect book to snuggle up with on a frosty day like today. You can't help but fall in love with Wilson's lyrical storytelling style and Chapman's enchanting illustrations. And happily, there are several more books where this came from; I couldn't bear it if Wilson and Chapman stopped here!