Author: Bill Martin Jr,
Join Baby Bear as he sets out to look for his beloved Mama Bear, meeting a diverse cast of North American animals along the way. Readers of all ages will enjoy the rich, colorful illustrations and heartfelt story of this last collaboration in a series that has helped millions learn to read.
This final collaboration by a gifted duo focuses on 10 animals native to America. The language includes actions typical of the creature highlighted- “Blue heron, blue heron, what do you see?/I see a prairie dog digging by me.” The animals, in colorful collages set against stark white backgrounds, strut, slide, glide, and hoot across the full spreads. A terrific read-aloud destined to rank high with the other titles by Martin and Carle.
– School Library Journal, August 2007
In its fourth—and billed as final—iteration, this primary level Q-and-A introduces ten North American mammals, from red fox and blue heron to rattlesnake, mule deer and finally (unspecified, but possibly Kodiak) Mama Bear. As always, Carle’s spread-filling painted-paper constructs capture a true sense of the animals’ looks, depicting each in a natural pose, gazing invitingly up at young viewers. As with its predecessors, the introduction of new material within a familiar, interactive structure makes a winning formula for keying new and pre-readers into colors, sequences and nature. Martin died in 2004—here’s a fitting close to what will likely remain his most lasting work for children. (Picture book 3-5)
– Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2007
These clever creators’ final collaboration arrives 40 years after their first, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, joining two previous bear sequels. Much in the same vein as its predecessors, this appealingly cadenced story introduces a sequence of animals, dramatically yet simply depicted in textured collage art against white backdrops. Readers first spot Baby Bear climbing a tree, responding to the question posed in the title: “I see a red fox slipping by me.” Red Fox in turn spies a flying squirrel gliding by, who sees a mountain goat climbing nearby, who sees a blue heron flying by and so on until a screech owl gazing wide-eyed at the reader sees “a mama bear looking at me.” A large-scale image of Mama Bear is followed by a spread revealing what she sees: each of the previously featured animals and (most satisfyingly) “my baby bear looking at me that’s what I see!” Creative action words and renderings of the various creatures in motion give the book a pleasing energy, while Mama Bear’s obvious delight at finding her cub provides an endearing poignancy. The elegant balance of art, text, emotion and exposition is a Martin and Carle hallmark; they have crafted a lovely finale to an enduring series. Ages 2-8. (Aug.)
– Publishers Weekly, June 25, 2007
This is the final effort from the iconic team of Carle and the late Martin. The story and illustrations focus on the bond between mother and child, and the book is everything you expect it to be. Baby Bear will be as popular as Brown Bear, Polar Bear, and Panda Bear!
-Margaret Brennan Neville, The King’s English, Salt Lake City, UT as printed in the
BOOK SENSE PICKS Newsletter of Independent Bookseller Recommendations, Autumn 2007
