by Melanie Heuiser Hill
When I plan a storytime, I always plan for the kiddos first and foremost. But I do like to give a nod to the grownups who have brought them when I can — something they’ll “get” at a different level than the kids, a treasure they might remember from their own childhood, a book that will make them smile or laugh.
The Mouse and Bear Books by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton, are always an inspired fit. The children adore these books and the adults can have their entire day turned around when we read one of these. They might come in sweaty and grumpy from trying to get everyone out the door, but they’ll leave lighter and with a smile. I’m always confident it will be a wonderful story time if I include one or more (it’s hard to stop with just one) in the series. They are regulars in my rotation — they re-read very well.
My favorite might be The Sniffles for Bear. Then again, it might be A Library Book for Bear. Or the first one, perhaps, A Visitor for Bear. Who am I kidding — they are all terrific. The reader must be prepared with these books — a monotone read will not do. The personalities of mouse and bear are much too wonderful for that. No, the reader must be ready to act — overact, in fact, in the case of Bear, especially.
There is not a misplaced word in any of these books — each one is precisely placed, flows effortlessly when read aloud, and paints with words the exact picture that Kady MacDonald Denton has gorgeously painted with paint.
The dialogue is perfect for these two friends so opposite, and yet so alike somehow. Bear, in particular, speaks as if he walked out of a Jane Austen novel, which contributes to much of the humor: I am quite ill — I grow weaker by the moment…. he says in The Sniffles for Bear. (“What he has,” one of the delighted grandmothers in a recent storytime said, “is a man-cold.”)
But mouse is not to be outdone: Perhaps we could have just a spot of tea, he says when he meets his friend in A Visitor for Bear.
I am undone….Bear says after being unable to show Mouse the door.
These characters are so delightful, so true, and so much fun. I’ve never read one of these books without the room’s energy changing to a wonderful hum and laughter ruling the day. I do not know if more Bear and Mouse books are planned, but I certainly hope so. They’ve won a ton of awards, but that doesn’t always mean a book is right for story time; in my experience, though, the acclaimed Mouse and Bear books make that double play every single time.
Our family absolutely loves these — We even have a signed copy of Sniffles and the other 2 keep getting repeatedly checked-out from the library. 🙂 Some of the best voice of picture book characters around!
Yes, they are terrific – lucky you with a signed copy!!!