Product Description

When Mummy Bear comes out to play with her baby bears, she finds three small snow bears instead. They don't look like her baby bears - but they love to play just the same games!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126372 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-06
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

Review
Mummy Bear emerges from her log cabin to play with her three baby bears and finds them covered in snow. 'You look like snow bears,' she says and that his how the pretence begins. As she can't find her own bears, Mummy Bear plays with the snow bears instead. Coincidentally they like playing the same games and eating the same things as her real baby bears! The text follows a pattern of repetition common to many of Martin Waddell's picture books, a technique that is bound to keep little ones listening as they can anticipate what is coming next. Here the repetition takes the form of each bear proclaiming in turn 'I don't know where we are', 'I haven't seen us' and 'We aren't here Mummy Bear'. Sarah Fox-Davies's luminous illustrations bring the story to life. Her skill at capturing light, whether it be the reflections of sunlight in the snow, the twilight just before the bears go home or the warmth of the log fire lighting up the inside of the cabin, is remarkable. Her bears, which are realistic rather than cute, are full of energy and fun. This is a charming and enjoyable book, perfect for reading aloud in front of the fire on a cold winter's day. Ages 2-5 (Kirkus UK)

The Financial Times, 30th November, 2002
A winter story of enormous warmth, sweetness and charm.

The Sunday Times, 1st December, 2002
[Snow Bears] has great comic timing, and anyone older than two will be amused as well as touched.

Customer Reviews

Stimulating text with beautiful illustrations
This book has wonderful illustrations, with a simple but stimulating text. The story has very vague links to a well known fairy tale, but for young children this is on the positive side.
The winter setting and the sensitive, fun-loving character of the Mommy Bear, creates a positive image of caring mothers. Young children will enjoy being read this beautiful storybook and will quickly be able to interact with the Mommy Bear's questions and the baby bears' answers.

Super `read-to-me' board book
with a vaguely familiar ring!

From the back cover:-

`When Mummy Bear comes out to play with her baby bears, she finds three small snow bears instead.
They don't look like her baby bears -
But they love to play just the same games.'

24 sturdy board pages in the popular 2-page spread.
Clear text, on the smaller side for a board book, but emphasised in places FOR EFFECT!
This book is further enhanced by a repeat on the three baby bear responses, giving scope for interaction!
Endearing illustrations throughout.

Example of text:-

`Mummy bear came out to play with her baby bears.
They were all covered with snow.
"You look like snow bears," Mummy Bear said.
"That's what we are," said the three baby bears.
"We are snow bears!"
And that's how their snow bear game began.
"But where are my baby bears?" Mummy Bear asked.

"I don't know where we are," said the biggest snow bear.
"I haven't seen us," said the middle-sized snow bear.
"We aren't here, Mummy Bear," said the smallest snow bear.

"Then who can I play with?" sighed Mummy Bear.......'

The snow bears offer to play with Mummy Bear and what an exciting time they all have, until the smallest bear is too cold and wants to go home.
As the warmth changes everything, the baby bears own up, with a different set of responses!

Super story, from Martin Waddell, as always!

Simple and fun
Snow Bears is a very endearing book, using the whole game of pretending to be someone else that small children find so appealing. It's good fun, our toddler was joining in with the game in the story on the first reading and it made him laugh so much.

This really is a beautiful book - the illustrations are just lovely - and one you will enjoy reading to them as much as they enjoy hearing and playing along with it. I commend it to you.