I Am Bear

February 22, 2016
British actor, rapper, and comic Smith's foray into children's books introduces a large purple bear with a knack for mischief. Bear isn't naturally purple, as readers learn in the opening sequence. "I am Bear./ and I am bare./ The suit I wear/ has purple hair," writes Smith as newcomer Akyuz shows the bear zipping himself into a furry purple bodysuit (Akyuz gets lots of comedic mileage out of the bear's ample rear end, which the bear shows off several times, in and out of his suit). Smith's clipped rhymes have a polish and punch that helps each joke and gag hit its mark, as when Bear tells a knock-knock joke to a squirrel ("Knock! Knock!/ Who's there?/ Munch, munch./ My lunch") that ends with the squirrel in his mouth. (Lest readers worry, the squirrel reappears a few pages later, just in time to get framed as a doughnut thief by Bear.) It's a zippy, over-in-a-minute escapade, but Akyuz's vibrant, painterly images and the sheer force of Bear's personality make a distinct mark. Ages 2-5. Author's agent: Robert Kirby, United Agents. Illustrator's agent: Jodie Hodges, United Agents.

February 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Bright, digital illustrations with bold outlines are a good match for this rhythmic troublemaking bear and his strong personality. "I am Bear./And I am bare./The suit I wear has purple hair." After he zips up and strikes a pose, Bear show off a little more for his readers by strutting about and antagonizing all the minor characters-especially that squirrel who mocked his nakedness. He eats the bees' honey, tells a knock-knock joke at the squirrel's expense, performs some questionable magic tricks, and shows readers his favorite game, "cops and robbers," where he eats all of a police officer's doughnuts. (The squirrel gets the blame.) After Bear torments the squirrel some more and paints a target on the behind of a sleeping female bear, the book pulls in for a close-up of Bear alone. The next spread shows a fierce chase scene of enraged minor characters after Bear until he makes a proud getaway on the final page. Though audiences may have mixed reactions to Bear, the beat of the text is catchy and readers and listeners will enjoy looking for the minor characters who show up throughout, including the mysterious blue rabbit who manages to pop up repeatedly but unnoticed. The back of the book confirms what readers will guess: Bear has not reformed. VERDICT An interesting mix of adorable and aggravating, Bear and his high energy will liven things up when read aloud.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2015
In this character debut from U.K. rapper Doc Brown (writing as Smith), readers meet the scrappy, edgy Bear, who moves about the day with slick rhymes and even slicker pranks. The book could be described as a meeting between the venerable goofiness of Yogi Bear and the encircling kitsch of the early 2000s Hip Hop Harry. Readers first see a bare, pink-skinned Bear who dons a purple suit and assumes a B-Boy stance. The narration reads like an early, toddler-friendly, playful version of hip-hop: "In my tummy? / Mostly honey. // Here's a thingy / I find funny...." In the accompanying illustrations, Bear is pictured eating honeycomb in a beekeeper's veil, muzzle and paws a sticky mess, then pointing up at leafy branches before playing a knock-knock joke on a red squirrel. (Well, Bear finds it funny, anyway.) Later on, Bear uses a wand to catch salmon and does a disappearing act, boasting, "I do magic. / Most bears won't. // Now you see me... // Now you don't!" A later prank finds Bear stealing doughnuts from a police officer (an ode to Yogi, maybe), mischievously setting up the red squirrel for the fall. All the while, graffiti artist Akyuz depicts the squirrel and an oft-ducking-from-trouble hare as sidekicks, friendly, thick outlines and saturated colors keeping time with the beat. Mixing the melodies of hip-hop with the antics of preadolescence makes this colorful picture book a charming read for young rap fans and beginning readers. (Picture book. 4-7)

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July 1, 2016
"Knock! Knock! / Who's there? / Munch. Munch. / My lunch." With an off-kilter rhyming text, Bear introduces himself and his silly (slightly naughty) antics. Large, brightly colored illustrations capture his mischievousness as he pulls pranks, steals doughnuts, and evades the (doughnut-missing) police. There's not much story, but Bear's quirky personality more than makes up for it.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)