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Summary
Summary
A reassuring story about separation and love
In this soothing love story between mother and child, Mama Bear offers various vessels to contain their love while they are apart--but none seem right. It's not until Little Bear suggests that they make each other a Kiss Box--filled with a hundred kisses--that they are able to stay connected--no matter where they are.
Whether it be an errand to the grocery store, a business trip, or the first day of school, this is a tender reminder that we are always together where it matters most: in our hearts.
Author Notes
BONNIE INGBER VERBURG has been editing books for children and adults for nearly three decades. She and her son live in Southern California with their two dogs, three parrots, a cat, a king snake, a leopard gecko, and a fish named Huck Fin.
HENRY COLE was born on a dairy farm near Purcellville, Virginia, and was an adored elementary-school science teacher for 16 years. He has since illustrated over 80 popular picture books, including the multimillion-selling Moose series and other bestsellers. Mr. Cole has always loved art and science, which has made him a keen observer of details in nature. He now lives in both Florida and Virginia.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Mama Bear must go away for awhile and she attempts to console her child with such sentiments as, "I will always come back," as well as, "And even when I'm not with you, Little Bear, I'll send you love and kisses every minute of every day." Little Bear creates a "Kiss Box," in which he places a hundred kisses for his mother. He then requests that she make one for him, and he's calmed knowing that their love will be conveyed through the boxes while they are apart. Very similar to Audrey Penn's The Kissing Hand (Child Welfare League of America, 1993), this book is intended to assure children that they are remembered and cared about even when separated from their loved ones. Cole's charming and cheery watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations of Mama Bear and Little Bear enjoying the day before she leaves do much to make this title appealing. The audience for this sweet, tender tale is very young children who may be reassured by the tangible reminder of love.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
"[S]ooner or later, all mama bears need to go away, even if it's just for a little while," writes debut author Verburg, founder and editorial director of Scholastic's Blue Sky Press imprint. But separation anxiety is no little thing-how can Little Bear be assured that out of sight doesn't mean out of mind? Mama Bear has a couple of ideas, but Little Bear comes up with the best one: he creates the titular box that he fills with a hundred kisses (in the form of cutout hearts), and has Mama Bear do the same. Whenever they miss one another, they can hold the box close or even open it up to "send kisses back and forth." Verburg handles her emotionally freighted material (based on personal experience, according to the endnote) with a light, patient touch, giving Little Bear's qualms their full due before introducing his solution. Cole's (the Big Chickens series) watercolor and colored pencil cartoons are friendly and familiar-there's something very reassuring in the understated emotion of his portrayals and the graceful beauty of his outdoor settings. Ages 3-5. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
The Kissing Hand, illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak (1993), but a whole lot more artful, this fresh take will motivate younger children to create boxes of their own. (storyteller's note) (Picture book. 3-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This Little Bear isn't the same one made famous by Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak, nor is he Martin Waddell's Little Bear, but he is certainly of the same ilk as those beloved characters. Similar in tone and theme to Minarik's classic series, this is for slightly younger readers, and it is a bit simpler with a briefer text. The focus here is on Little Bear and Mama Bear and their upcoming separation (Mama Bear must go out for the afternoon). Softly colored pencil-and-watercolor illustrations portray bucolic, quotidian scenes: Mama Bear pushing Little Bear on a swing, the two fishing together, a picnic in a field. Throughout, Mama Bear reassures Little Bear: I will think about you all the time,' said his mama, no matter where I am or what I do.' Together they work out a solution for his separation anxiety: something to carry kisses in. The Storyteller's Note at the end makes explicit what many parental readers will already have surmised that the kiss box is as helpful for mamas as it is for the cubs they miss.--Foote, Diane Copyright 2010 Booklist
