“Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories” and “Dog and Bear: Two’s Company”
both by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook Press, 9781596430532 and
9781596432734, $12.95 each, 32 pages each, for ages 4 to 7)
Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s name should sound familiar to you: her picture book
First the Egg
earned a 2008 nominee for the Caldecott Medal and an honor for the Geisel
Award. She’s also the author and illustrator of “Lemons Are Not Red” and
“Black? White! Day? Night?” All of her books combine simple ideas with
striking, appealing visuals that make them favorites with teachers,
librarians, parents, and young kids alike. Her two “Dog and Bear” books are
no exceptions: they are simply wonderful early picture books.
“Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories” first came out last year and was
named an ALA Notable honoree. Its brand-new follow-up, “Dog and Bear: Two’s
Company,” is just as great. Each book contains three short stories about the
lovely camaraderie of a stuffed bear and his dachshund best friend. They’re
perfect for individual reading or for sharing with a group.
In the first book, the two friends have an easy give-and-take. Dog coaches
Bear on how to get down from a tall chair (the quickest way: slide down
dog's noodly back). The pair learns to compromise when one wants to play and
the other wants to read: they end up taking turns reading to each other. And
in the end story, Bear changes Dog's name to "My Best Friend Dog" but still
calls him just "Dog" for short.
The new book adds a little more conflict. The opening story shows Dog in a
huff and packing his toys to leave. Bear coaxes him to stay for ice cream,
and they are reconciled. Next, Dog bakes Bear a tremendous birthday cake,
but accidentally eats it all before Bear arrives. Still, Bear adores the
birthday candle that remains. Finally, Bear takes good care of Dog while
he’s sick, and when Bear starts to feel poorly, Dog returns the favor.
Seeger illustrates both books with bold brushstrokes and bright patches of
color that add genuine homespun warmth to her stories of everyday
friendship. Add to that the books’ nice size and sturdy hardcover bindings,
and you have a perfect package for story time. (And should I mention the
books’ welcome lack of dust jackets? Why can’t all children’s book be made
that way? It would be heaven!)
These books will easily become repeat favorites, and Dog and Bear will
become two of your young readers’ very best friends.
Review by
Mark David
Bradshaw, April 16, 2008
Back
to Reviews
