Picture Book - Bear Wants More - Karma Wilson (Author) & Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Picture Book - Bear Wants More - Karma Wilson (Author) & Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Recommended for - Babies/Toddlers/Younger Children

And so, for now, I bid farewell to Bear, as I come to the end of the eight books in the series published so far...

Bear wakes up following a long period of hibernation, and he's rather hungry. But what will he do if he eats so much that he can't fit through the entrance to his cave anymore?

For once, FINALLY, Bear doesn't seem to suffer too much! Sure, he can't fit into his home for a while, but that just means he takes the party to the forest outside. That's more fun, surely? I'm not sure if this is actually the latest book in the series, but it's a nice way to finish it, compared to the last two stories I've reviewed where he gets stuck in a storm, and then feels ill!

Throughout the series, the stories have had a heart-warming centre, about a Bear and his friends who help each other out when the need arises. The words flow together brilliantly, the illustrations are wonderful to look at, and there's always a delightful feel-good ending (not that you'd expect anything different in a book for children!). The quality is consistently great throughout, never dipping, making all the books in the series a must-read.

Well done Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman - in my opinion, I think the Bear series is the best long children's picture book series availble. Please write some more!

9/10

Picture Book - Bear Feels Scared - Karma Wilson (Author) & Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Picture Book - Bear Feels Scared - Karma Wilson (Author) & Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Recommended for Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

And so we return to Karma Wilson's Bear series. Always a pleasure to do so!

In Bear Feels Scared, our furry friend gets lost outside when a huge storm hits the Strawberry Vale. Luckily, his friends are around to help him find his way home, and look after him until he feels safe again. 

Poor Bear - Karma Wilson really does put him through some peril at times! If children haven't been feeling sorry for Bear in the past, they certainly will do now. Anyone familiar with the series knows that it'll all turn out OK in the end, but your heart really does go out to him until then.

As ever, the illustrations are lovely, and the words flow together delightfully. At the time of writing, there's only two books left in the series. What shall I do without my regular fix of Bear?!

9/10

Picture Book - I Want My Hat Back - Jon Klassen (Author & Illustrator)

Picture Book - I Want My Hat Back - Jon Klassen (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

Oh, this is good. This is so, so good.

A short while ago, I declared that The Princess and The Pig by Jonathan Emmett was my favourite picture book of all time. Now, I still love that book, but I'm afraid it's been usurped. I Want My Hat Back is my favourite present that my son received this Christmas, so many many thanks to my Uncle for spotting it. This book had me in stitches, and it's rare that you'll find a picture book that will genuinely be making you laugh.

There's a delightful quirkiness to the illustrations, and it's these illustrations that make the humour so complete. The way a shifty look is portrayed as one character lies about knowing nothing of bear's hat is brilliant, as is the pay off at the end when bear has had his revenge. It revisits dialogue from earlier in the book to maximum comedy effect, and even if your child enjoys it just for being a story where bear gets his hat back in the end, it's guaranteed to make you smile at the conclusion.

I almost feel like this book was written just for me, it fits my sense of humour so well. I have a feeling that this is going to become one of my son's favourites very, very quickly. As if he has a choice in the matter...

10/10

Picture Book - A House in the Woods - Inga Moore (Author & Illustrator)

Picture Book - A House in the Woods - Inga Moore (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

A House in the Woods tells the story of two (that's right, TWO, not three!) little pigs, who decide to build a den and a hut in the woods to live in. Sadly, their friends Moose and Bear destroy both luxury properties accidentally. The four friends decide that should all live together in a house in the woods, so they enlist the help of the local beavers to make their dream a reality.

This is a really fun story. It's more wordy than a lot of picture books, so possibly for slightly older toddlers with slightly longer attention spans, but it's a great tale of friendship for them to hear, and it's bound to make children giggle in places. It made me smile particularly when you learn that the beavers want to be paid in peanut butter sandwiches - I wish the banks would start offering such a deal.

The illustrations reminded me of the styles I've seen in illustrations for Winnie the Pooh and Brer Rabbit, which brought a nostalgic tear to my eye. When you see the house in the woods, you'll be hard pressed not to want to go out and find the local beavers to build you one for yourself.

Well worth reading with your children.

9/10