Review Detail

Bear's Big Idea

Kids Fiction 47

The power of friendship

November 11, 2024

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Big Bear and Little Fish are back in a new adventure! Little Fish is usually the one to suggest fun activities for the friends to do, like climbing trees, riding summer sleds to get carrot muffins, sploshing in puddles, and making a blanket fort. When Fish suggests that Bear come up with an idea for the next day, it stresses Bear so much that he wakes up in the middle of the night because he can't think of anything. Unlike Fish, who puts on his glasses and comes up with an idea first thing, Bear has trouble. He thinks about the other adventures that the two have had when he sees the umbrella or the blanket that they used, but wants to come up with a NEW thing to do. Fish is very encouraging, and the two spend some time while Bear is looking for ideas. Eventually, he comes up with an epic activity that borrows a bit from previous ones, and Fish is there to cheer his friend on and appreciate the effort that Bear has put in to planning their day.

Good Points

It's hard to come up with ideas of things to do, and I'm sure a lot of children will understand Bear's plight. Fish is a very supportive friend who doesn't rush Bear or jump in to save him with an idea of his own, which shows a lot of patience.

These two friends are a little goofy; I'm not sure what a summer sled is, but if it can be taken to get some carrot muffins, I'm all for it! Fish, of course, has to travel around in his bowl, but Bear always makes sure that he companion is save and involved in the activities.

Dynamic duos like Marshall's George and Martha or Lobel's Frog and Toad are mainstays in children's literature, and have modern equivalents in Border's Peanut Butter and Cupcake, Barclay's Sheep and Sheep Dog, Wulfcotte's Rabbit and Possum, and Clanton's Narwhal and Jelly. Little Fish and Big Bear are another great combination, with Fish being the older seeming, wiser of the two, while younger readers may identify more with the less secure and struggling Bear.