April 2016 Book of the Month The characters may be bears, but the parent/child relationship depicted in this lovely picture book will be familiar to all readers. It’s hot so a little bear suggests to his dad that they should go to the river to cool down and dad agrees. Little Bear is determined to lead the way and show his dad just how brave and clever he is but, as all parents know, this kind of excitement leads to accidents. Sure enough, Little Bear slips but with Dad’s help they reach the river in the end and have a lovely time. The text perfectly catches some of those special interactions between parent and child, and illustrator Emily Hughes makes the bears particularly endearing. ~ Andrea Reece
From the author of Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise and the illustrator of Wild, comes a story of a daddy and a baby bear, on a day that's as hot as hot can be.
When Dad Bear says, I think a pair of hot bears is probably the hottest thing in the world, Little Bear suggests that they go all the way to the river to cool down. But what will happen when Little Bear tries to impress his dad by doing a big jump across the rocks?
Told from the perspective of Little Bear and capturing his determination to be big and brave just like his dad, the youngest of readers will rejoice in the gorgeous characterization, the warmth of the storytelling and the deliciously detailed artwork of illustration star, Emily Hughes.
A daddy and baby bear spend a very special day together in this gentle, joyful story about children and parents. Hughes
A truly felicitous author/illustrator partnership if ever there was one and a picture book to be read over and over and... Red Reading Hub
Ideal for pre-schoolers and perfect for reading together, this book is sure to become a family favourite. Inis Magazine
A book for families, for dads and for illustration fans, this is in the same territory as the phenomenally successful Guess How Much I Love You, but with a subtler sentimentality that might appeal to a new generation of parents. BookTrust
A touching observation of a bear and his cub as they take a trip to the river to cool down on a hot day. Stunning illustrations bring this delightful tale to life. Baby Surrey
This lovely book captures the languid mood of a hot day along with the easy rhythms of a sweet father-child connection. [...] There's a reassuring air to Taylor's story, conveying the message that the days that turn out the best still can feature nasty falls and uncomfortable weather. With her small, dense pencil strokes, Hughes gives her bears utterly peaceable expressions and long, soft-looking fur that may cause readers to fondly recall the work of Paul Galdone. The two bears seem to glide through an enchanting landscape of dark greens and browns sprinkled with rocks and exotic flowers, as the bright orange sun makes its way to a gorgeous final sunset image of father and child looking lovingly at each other as they walk home. The New York Times
Emanating a wonderful sense of security, comfort and the closeness of family this is a charming story for Fathers Day. The illustrations really capture their bond as well as the hot sunny day. South Wales Evening Post
Emily Hughes pictures bring a luxurious, exotic palette to the landscape [...] her depiction of the father and son relationship brilliantly matches Sean Taylor's delightful story told from the little bear's point of view. He's an advocate for reading to children and has ten top tips why we should. This is a great book for shared reading on a one to one basis or with a group. The School Librarian
Emily Hughes pictures bring a luxurious, exotic palette to the landscape [...] her depiction of the father and son relationship brilliantly matches Sean Taylor's delightful story told from the little bear's point of view. [...] This is a great book for shared reading on a one to one basis or with a group. SLA
Author
About Sean Taylor
Sean Taylor has written more than 40 books for young readers. These include the Purple Class series of comic adventures set in an urban primary school, a collection of folktales from the Amazon called The Great Snake, a novel for teenagers called A Waste of Good Paper, and picture books such as The World Champion of Staying Awake, illustrated by Jimmy Liao and Boing!, illustrated by Bruce Ingman. He lives in Bristol with his wife and two sons. Visit Sean at www.seantaylorstories.com
