REVIEW: Bear in a Bathrobe by Maddie Frost

Summary


When Bear’s friends invite him out to go ice skating, he always has an excuse. Bear is not a big fan of the outdoors – especially because he gets to wear his cozy bathrobe when he stays inside!

But Bear’s friends have special things that help them when they feel scared – a special scarf or a lucky hat. Maybe if Bear had a cozy special something he could feel brave enough to join his friends!

Review


This is super cute!! I fell in love with Maddie Frost’s illustrations when I read her Wombats series earlier this year. So I had to check out this picture book  – and it is gorgeous! I love her art style and the cute touches in her spreads. The liner papers in this are rows of coffee/cocoa mugs, and they are darling.

The story here is both funny and inspiring. It’s a friendship story while also being a story about being scared and trying something new anyway. And Bear’s ice skating adventure isn’t perfect. But he’s okay and able to roll with the ups and downs.

This would be a lot of fun to read aloud. And I think kids will want to get up close so they can pour over the artwork in this one. Don’t miss this darling winter story!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read

 

REVIEW: Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar

Summary


Little Red Gliding Hood is a spectacular skater. But her skates are falling apart! If she could find an amazing skating partner to join her in the Pairs Skating Competition, maybe she could win a new pair of skates. All the usual options are either already skating or not interested in skating with Red.

Maybe she needs to try an… unusual option.

Little Red Gliding Hood

Review


I adore fractured fairy tales!! I picked this up when I met the illustrator, Troy Cummings, at a conference earlier this year. This book is the perfect addition to my collection of fractured fairy tales. The story is clever. The illustrations include references to many fairy tales and nursery rhymes. This makes the book a great one to come back to over and over to see what new tidbits you spot this time that you never saw before.

I love using books like this in a classroom setting for compare and contrast activities. Reading the original first helps. Then have students make a list of ways this is similar to the original. Then tackle ways it is different.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥