You're a Bear - Hardcover

Mavis Jukes is the author of many wonderful books for children, including her Newbery Honor Winner, Like Jake and Me.

The artwork of Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher has appeared in New York’s Bravest by Mary Pope Osborne, My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, and The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer.

PreS-Gr. 2. Newbery Honor author Jukes celebrates the power of imaginative play in this delightful story of a young girl who entertains herself before going to bed by pretending to be a bear. Under a furry coat, the girl prowls through the house, hunting for food and fishing in the bathtub, at last drifting off to sleep holding her stuffed bear. The spreads feature an image of a real bear on left-hand pages, accompanied by rich, rhyming text. On the right, full bleeds show the girl imitating bear movements while her affectionate brother and parents look on. Children will enjoy immersing themselves in this play world while listening to words that conjure up bears: "Wish for fish. Stand in the sand / by a stream. / In a pool you'll see reflection of your drool. / You'll see floppy lips--and underneath, / scary teeth that gleam and glimmer." Johnson and Fancher, known for their work in Mary Pope Osborne's New York's Bravest (2002), use a soft, rich palette to capture the complete focus of a child using familiar objects to create a fanciful evening of play. Louise Brueggeman
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