A Visitor for Bear (Bear and Mouse, #1)

Apr 06, 2008 Betsy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cute is hard. Picture book cute, that is. A lot of people might disagree with that, but I'm going to make a case here. There's a perception out there that if you slap a pair of big brown eyes and a furry tail on something, badda-bing! Instant adorable. Picture books, however, offer the greatest test any author or artist has to face. Because cute isn't just a visual state. It's reliant on a story that can be touching without becoming candy-coated and saccharine. It requires a certain level of res...more Cute is hard. Picture book cute, that is. A lot of people might disagree with that, but I'm going to make a case here. There's a perception out there that if you slap a pair of big brown eyes and a furry tail on something, badda-bing! Instant adorable. Picture books, however, offer the greatest test any author or artist has to face. Because cute isn't just a visual state. It's reliant on a story that can be touching without becoming candy-coated and saccharine. It requires a certain level of restraint on both the author and the illustrator's part. Cute is hard to do and do well. Like I say, anyone can fake it and end up on a line of greeting cards, but very few people can make cute count for something. Bonny Becker can. With her remarkable A Visitor for Bear, Becker teams with top notch illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton to bring us a book that actually goes on beyond "cute" into something more. This is a book that warms the cold cockles of even the grumpiest heart. People who cringe at the sight of Bambi and shudder at baby chicks will be instantly charmed by Becker and Denton's tale of a grump that learns that sometimes the right visitor is worth the vexation that comes with giving up your privacy.

Bear's pretty good at keeping people away. No one ever visits him, and just in case one does he has a big sign in front that reads, "NO visitors allowed". Just in case. Everything is fine and dandy until one day a mouse "small and gray and bright-eyed" knocks on the door. Bear says in no uncertain terms that he is not keen on visitors. The mouse seems to understand, but when Bear attempts to get out a bowl for himself, there sits the mouse asking for a spot of tea. After throwing out the unwanted guest Bear tries to open his bread drawer next, and there again is the mouse! To Bear's increasing frustration the mouse is absolutely everywhere, and no amount of stoppering or locking keeps him away. At last, Bear consents to having a bit of tea with the miniscule visitor and soon discovers that the mouse is attentive, easily impressed, and laughs at Bear's jokes. And when it is time for the mouse to go, Bear finds himself unceremoniously ripping down the "NO visitors allowed" sign. After all, he says, that is a sign for salesmen. Not for friends.

The book works because in the space of a mere 56 pages it establishes character and personality perfectly. In a way, this is a story of two fastidious creatures, one open to new friends and one not. It makes perfect sense to me that Bear and the mouse would get along. Just look at how they are presented. Bear lays out his single cup and single spoon with a delicacy at odds with his sheer mass. The mouse, similarly, is taken to speaking in polite, clipped tones. "Terribly sorry... Now you see me; now you don't. I am gone." I imagine him being voiced by Basil Rathbone, perhaps. And Bear would be John Houston.

My boss read through this book and sighed with relief when he got to the end. "I was worried that at some point we'd see a large group of mice." It actually never occurred to me that the mouse might be pulling off his appearances by being of a number greater than one. And though that would have been a nice enough idea, it's been done before (with frogs, apparently). Also, had the Bear discovered twenty or so mice hiding within the crawl spaces, nooks, and crannies of his home, it would have taken away from his slow realization that maybe having someone over for tea isn't so bad. Bear's change of heart isn't actually all that fast for a picture book. It's only during the course of tea that he comes to see how nice it is to have someone around to laugh at your jokes and listen to your stories. I also loved that the mouse brought along his own teacup. He must have, since it seems unlikely that Bear would have had a mouse-sized cup sitting about is cupboards.

And talk about a great readaloud. As the bear gets increasingly vexed his words get more and more delicious. "Vamoose!" he says at one point. "Begone!" he cries at another. "This is impossible! Intolerable! Insufferable!" And as he says these things Bear's face turns the faintest shade of pink as blue lines almost emanate off of him. And what does Bear say when at last he has been outwitted by the mouse's persistence? "I am undone." Picture books that read aloud well are not as common as you might think. The advantage to Becker's story is that her characters are so distinct. The mouse's mode of speaking is definitely different from Bear's, allowing the reader to give them wonderful voices of their own. As for the illustrator's pictures, Kady MacDonald Denton's images telegraph well across a crowded room. The size of the book is ideal for large groups of children and though the colors are soft and natural, that is not to say that they don't pop off of the page with aplomb.

I guess I'd never seen a book illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton before. I say this because I think I would remember her style. Denton is like the Bob Fosse of children's illustration. Characters' movements often come down to the most delicate turns of their wrists, or the way their feet stick up in just the right way. The mouse is an adorable and delicate fellow. He is indeed small and gray and bright-eyed but it's really his single-minded attentiveness that makes him such a sterling companion. Bear, on the other hand, really does feel as if he has weight and bulk. His belly sags believably and Denton has been very careful to make his weight fall in such a way that he never looks unbalanced (unless, of course, he is flinging himself to the floor on purpose). The delicate illustrations are done entirely in watercolor, ink, and gouache, which is rather nice. I was particularly taken with the choice of season. This is a distinctly autumnal book. The trees in the background are changing and there's always a spare leaf floating to the ground in one scene or another. It is clear that Denton thought through Becker's story since why else would Bear create a roaring crackling fire in the fireplace unless it was a slightly chilly day outside? And the occasional illustrated word really made the book pop. At the height of his frustration Bear roars a massive "Begone!" that unlike every other word in the book is actually illustrated. It only happens once, but I like seeing an illustrator know how to ratchet up a story's build-up and suspense through carefully chosen moments.

On the bookflap of this book Ms. Becker says of herself, "I hesitate to admit how much Bear is in me, but I'm grateful for every lovely mouse in my life." Everyone has a little bit of Bear in them, I think. We've all had those days when we just want to sit and stew in our own solitary juices. When the thought of sharing our space with another human being sounds like way too much work. A Visitor for Bear is as much a fabulous picture book as it is a cautionary tale. Sometimes it takes a mouse to get us moving. Consider "A Visitor for Bear" a book with classic-appeal.

Ages 3-8.(less)

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May 22, 2008 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens-picture-books, narrative-skills, vocabulary, favorite-books

Ahhhh.

I dare you NOT to give the mouse a British accent if you read this aloud. I just DARE you. Go ahead, try. It's not possible.

This is a lovely book -- sweet without being sappy or annoying. There are also some great opportunities for learning some new vocabulary words -- VAMOOSE! INSUFFERABLE! -- which are easily explained in context. Perhaps a bit long, page-wise, for preschool storytime, but I'm going to try it out with some kids tomorrow and see how it goes. Perhaps the story'll hook them...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Young Mensans rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

This book was about a bear that had a “No Visitors Allowed” sign on his front door. Bear was making breakfast when he heard a tap, tap on his door. Bear opened the door and there was a mouse. Bear asks mouse if he read the “No Visitors” sign on his front door. Bear tells the mouse to leave and then he went back to making his breakfast, but when he opens the drawer, there was the mouse; small, gray and bright-eyed. Bear gets the mouse back outside and shuts the door very firmly. Bear opens the cu...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Amelia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love Bear. I love Mouse. Together, they make magic. Bear's emotions build at just the right pace as he tries time and again to make his breakfast, only to be interrupted by this most unwanted visitor. And time and time again, the kids are always amazed at how Mouse keeps getting into Bear's house, even after the door is locked, the windows are boarded, the chimney is stopped, and the bathtub drain is plugged. You must read this book with feeling, pulling your hair and wailing just as Bear does...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Amy Musser rated it 5 of 5 stars

All Bear wants to do is enjoy his tea all by himself in his cozy cottage. Then Mouse shows up at the door, “small and gray and bright-eyed.” Bear points at the “No visitors allowed” sign and closes the door. But Mouse won’t give up and as Bear puts together his tea he finds Mouse hiding all over the kitchen. Each time he banishes Mouse, locking the door and boarding up the windows, the small creature somehow makes his way back into the cabinets, the fridge, and even the tea pot. Defeated, Bear g...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, bedtime-stories, picture-book

Bear is decidedly not interested in any visitors. He even posts a sign to ward off anyone foolish enough to drop by. But when a mouse happens to appear in his house, he doesn't take the visit lying down. He does everything humanly possible to get rid of the unwanted creature. No matter what he does, the mouse keeps popping up in the most unlikely spots. After growing increasingly frustrated, he roars his rage at the mouse and tells it to go away. It turns out, though, that all Bear needed was a...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Christen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nobody visits Bear. He even has a sign, “No Visitors Allowed.” But one day there is a tap, tap, tapping on the door just as Bear tries to make his breakfast. It’s Mouse dropping in for a visit – over and over again – no matter how many times Bear escorts him from the cottage. Eventually, Mouse’s persistence wins. They settle in for a cup of tea and Bear learns that friends make welcome visitors. Enlarged text in strategic spots of dialogue cue the emotional difference between Bear’s crumbling co...more

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Jan 09, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Adorable tale nominated for a California Young Reader Medal this year. I read this book 17 times this week to various classes and loved every reading. The students help me rediscover this book in different ways. It is a great story about a bear who wants no visitors and a mouse who is persistent in showing up all over the place. Finally bear agrees to let mouse stay if mouse promises to leave after some tea. During the tea, Bear discovers that he likes mouse's company. Finally mouse begins to le...more

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May 23, 2008 Joanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books

Our oldest LOVES this book, and the more I read it the more I like it too. Bear has a "no visitors" sign posted and is invaded by a small mouse who refuses to go away until Bear invites him for tea and realizes that he really does like having a friend. It's sweet.

There's a refrain that our little reader loves to repeat: the mouse is always "small and gray and bright-eyed."

The illustrations are just wonderful, with little touches like a bee-print tablecloth.

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Oct 09, 2012 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hughs-shelf, childrens, picture-book, 2012

I read this to the kids during afternoon tea time, and they were so into it they were hardly eating!

Bear doesn't like visitors, and in fact he has a sign on his door saying "No visitors allowed". One day as he's about to get his breakfast ready, a mouse knocks on his door. Bear tells him to go away, and closes the door in his face. But every time he goes to get an item for his breakfast - a cup, an egg etc. - there's the mouse! How did he get in? No matter how many times Bear keeps throwing the...more

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Jan 25, 2009 ReadingJungle.com rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this heart-warming story of persistence, hospitality and an unlikely friendship, A Visitor for Bear will surely become a story time favorite! Written by award-winning author Bonnie Becker and illustrated by talented Kady MacDonald Denton, this read-aloud picture book teaches all of us the powerful transitions of friendship.

A bright-eyed mouse pops in repeatedly on a solitary bear to politely suggest a spot of tea. Bear, who allows no visitors, keeps ordering the cheery little mouse to leave...more

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Feb 17, 2011 Lisa Carroll rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: module-1-booklist

This picture book has become a classic at our house. The charming characters, Bear and mouse, are irresistable. I am not usually interested in books that have such cute pictures, but I love the personalities of the main characters. I love that Bear is a little bit grumpy and resistant to let mouse into his life. I also love how mouse is so persistent. The story is clever and timeless. The repitition that occurs is wonderful for the preschool age child and it is fun for the child to guess where m...more

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May 21, 2013 Kendra Ahlborn rated it 5 of 5 stars

There's this moment in this book where the bear, who's solely determined to be a hermit, falls to the floor and weeps to his unwanted mouse vistor, "I give up. You win. I am undone." That's kind of how I feel about this book. I read it for the sake of reading it, and I had no expectations for liking it whatsoever, but... like the unwanted mouse visitor who wanted to stay and make himself at home with the bear, this book has somehow made itself at home with me as well. It's adorable. The illustra...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have never heard of, or read, this book until today, and it is just too cute!

It's unlikely that I bear and mouse would last together for more than minutes without either the mouse leaving permanently or being eaten, so this level of frustration is almost human-like: The persistent neighbor who doesn't get the hint.

It's a funny read for children to see how the mouse sneaks into each place the bear is looking. And because of the repetitive nature of the book, it's predictable, which makes conte...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: therapeutic

Written By: Bonny Becker
Illustrated By: Kady MacDonald Denton
Book Type: Therapeutic
This is the story about a bear that wanted to be alone all of the time. A mouse came to visit but the bear did not want any visitors; he liked his solitude. He has a large sign on his front door stating “NO visitors allowed”. So the mouse goes into the house and wants to stay, the bear is outraged and repeatedly asks the mouse to leave; only to discover the mouse has gotten back inside. Eventually the mouse wins a...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Joni rated it 5 of 5 stars

It’s easy to see why Bonny Becker’s “A Visitor for Bear” was chosen as an ALA Notable Children’s Book for 2009. In this charming tale, Becker introduces us to two characters who become instant favorites: A grumpy, reclusive bear and a “small and gray and bright-eyed” mouse. Bear wants to be left alone. He even has a sign “No Visitors Allowed”. But Mouse is determined to share a breakfast with Bear and when his antics finally break Bear’s resolve, Bear agrees to one breakfast – but then Mouse mus...more

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Nov 24, 2009 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens-picture-books

Disliked the beginning, loved the end! It's the usual story of a curmudgeon's armor being worn away by a persistent and charming soon-to-be friend. However, at first, I just felt the mouse was annoying! Who was he to keep ignoring bear's requests to be left alone just because he (mouse) wanted some food and a play to stay? After all, some creatures really do just want some solitude! By the end, it is clear that bear was unhappy in his solitude and we may hope/insinuate that mouse knew this and h...more

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Dec 11, 2008 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cap-choices, picture-books

0-7
nice story of friends and manners. Bear has a sign on his door - no visitors!! however, mouse keeps showing up hoping to share a spot of tea, some cheese, etc. no matter how many times bear finds him (in the cupboard, fridge, etc), he kicks him out and mouse apologizes. Finally in his frustration, bear relents and allows mouse to stay for tea and cheese, and they have a good time (no one has every laughed at bear's jokes, etc)...then mouse says he must leave because he promised...bear begs hi...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bears, mice, early_elementary, dont-own, friendship, picture_books, readalouds

Absolutely charming story. Bear doesn't like visitors-- in fact, he has a "No Visitors Allowed" sign prominently displayed on his door--but when a persistent mouse keeps popping up around his house, he discovers that some types of visitors are worth an exception to the rule. This story is beautifully told-- it makes for a great readaloud, although my guess is that the text is a bit lengthy for most preschool story times. Kids will enjoy trying to anticipate where the mouse will appear next, and...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Steven Reid rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-book

1. Genre: Picture Book---concept
2. Summary: This book is about a bear who learns the value of friendship.
3a. Critique: incomplete details
3b. This book is weak on fully explaining details of the storyline. It mentions certain acts that are performed, but doesn't not follow through with how those acts did or did not affect change.
3c. The mouse keeps getting into the bear's house. The bear keeps shutting the doors, windows, and drains, but the mouse continues to get in. The book does not explain ho...more

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Nov 06, 2010 Dolly rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: parents reading with their children

Shelves: 2010, childrens

This is a really fun book to read aloud and shows the meaning of friendship and the goodness of having company. The author never explains how the mouse keeps finding his way back into the house (as mice often do), but our girls are convinced it is magic. I thought for awhile that it was just going to be a bunch of look-alike mice who were all hiding in bear's house, but it was not so. For some reason, I thought it was appropriate to read Mouse's part with a British accent. Perhaps it was the req...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Skoobdoog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Funny and touching story about a grumpy bear who is convinced he doesn’t like visitors or need company until a very insistent mouse knocks on his door. At first Bear just wants to get rid of Mouse and tries to lock him out, but Mouse always finds a new way back in. Eventually Bear comes to accept and want Mouse’s company as he opens up to idea of having visitors and they become friends. The illustrations are a lovely mix of ink, watercolour and gouche that capture all the humour and charm of the...more

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Oct 29, 2010 Bridget R. Wilson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books, mice, bears, friendship

Bear doesn't like visitors. He has a sign: No Visitors Allowed. But one day even his sign doesn't deter a small, gray mouse. He pops up in the most unusual places--the cupboard, the bread drawer, the fridge, the teakettle. Will the mouse ever leave or will Bear finally decide he does like some visitors?

What I thought: How did I miss this book? I love it. Such a humorous story. I can't decide who to side with, Bear or Mouse. They're both so appealing. The repetition in the story makes It a fun re...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: friends

This is an endearing book about Bear, a large burly fellow who doesn't want any visitors at his house, and a small bright-eyed mouse who wants to be his friend. The mouse tries repeatedly to convince Bear to let him stay, and finally Bear caves in. Bear is surprised to find out that he likes having a friend, and the small mouse melts Bear's cold exterior. Cute story, with soft illustrations. The illustrations remind me a lot of Ernest H. Shepard's art.

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Apr 29, 2012 Ezekiel rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: NO ONE!!!

This teaches some pretty creepy lessons to children. Like seriously something that should never be read to kids creepy.

Bear doesn't like visitors (apparently he hasn't had any, and as such has decided he doesn't like them). Mouse shows up one day and knocks on the door. Bear tells him to go away. The next ten pages or so are of Bear starting to make his solitary tea only to be interrupted by the fact that Mouse has (apparently) broken into the house and is stashed wherever Bear is going to go ne...more This teaches some pretty creepy lessons to children. Like seriously something that should never be read to kids creepy.

Bear doesn't like visitors (apparently he hasn't had any, and as such has decided he doesn't like them). Mouse shows up one day and knocks on the door. Bear tells him to go away. The next ten pages or so are of Bear starting to make his solitary tea only to be interrupted by the fact that Mouse has (apparently) broken into the house and is stashed wherever Bear is going to go next (the refrigerator for an egg, the tea pot for the water, the cupboard for the bread, etc.). Each time Bear tells Mouse to leave and Mouse says "of course of course, I'm going" (paraphrase). Only each time Mouse has returned. So Mouse is lying. Finally Bear is overwhelmed by the onslaught and agrees to Mouse's demands. Mouse says ze just wants a "little" tea to share with Bear. Bear then goes around the house and *undoes* EVERY bit of security that he had put up, making himself vulnerable again, all because Mouse is still in the house and basically demands it (ze wants the chimney unstopped so they can have a fire).

So up till now we have lying, coercion, and ignoring another person's expressed boundaries.

Then we find out that as the tea commences Bear becomes friendly towards Mouse because Mouse is willing to pay attention to him and look at his headstands and comment on the loveliness of the fire. Then Mouse *manipulates* Bear into taking down his sign saying "No Visitors" because ze goes to leave and says "I promised I'd leave" even though Bear starts to beg zir to stay.

So now we have Further coercion, and then the writer showing that Bear *secretly wanted* someone to ignore his boundaries and force him to engage in conversation, so much so that he falls to the ground trying to stop Mouse from leaving. Bear then further proves this by tearing up his sign and saying it "doesn't count."

You see where I'm going with this? This is like the EXACT narrative of a rape culture. Keep pushing and pushing and pushing and the RIGHT response from your ~~victim~~ potential friend is to finally acquiesce to your demands. Then! It shows that secretly your ~~victim~~ friend *WANTED YOU* to force them into it. That's right. Seriously. FUCKED UP. (less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Christen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: picture-books

Nobody visits Bear. He even has a sign, “No Visitors Allowed.” But one day there is a tap, tap, tapping on the door just as Bear tries to make his breakfast. It’s Mouse dropping in for a visit – over and over again – no matter how many times Bear escorts him from the cottage. Eventually, Mouse’s persistence wins. They settle in for a cup of tea and Bear learns that friends make welcome visitors. Enlarged text in strategic spots of dialogue cue the emotional difference between Bear’s crumbling co...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-0-12, fiction, humor, picture-books, craft-storytime-prep, craft-storytime-read

I knew this book would be too long for a toddler or preschool storytime. And with the varying ages I could get with craft or PJ, I might not be able to do this one either. Not text intensive, but still long and might be boring to some children.

I, however, did not find it boring. I loved the illustrations and how frustrated the bear got. There was some very slight humor that might go over some children's heads--but might not. The book, though, should probably be read with a British accent. It jus...more

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Jun 23, 2008 Roxanne Hsu Feldman rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1-3grade, 2008, childrensbooks, picturebooks, prek-k

The positives:

The animals' faces are highly expressive. Neither Bear nor Mouse is really "cute" -- they look realistic with Bear's voluminous shape and the skinniness of the Mouse. The light and earthy color scheme fits the animal setting as well. Although predictable in some way, the popping up of the Mouse at various spots in the house will make the youngest set of listeners squeal with delight. I can totally see this one at a library reading aloud program and become a favorite, especially wit...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Bekah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: animal-fiction, bekah-s-top-twenty

One day, a grumpy bear is visited by a mouse. The problem? Bear does not like visitors. However, the mouse keeps showing up all over Bear's house, much to his chagrin. Eventually, a friendship is formed and Bear realizes how nice it is to have a friend. I chose "A Visitor for Bear" for my top-twenty list because of the message of friendship and persistence. Also, the marriage of picture and text is absolutely beautiful - both appear rich and dignified. Great for reading aloud, especially to earl...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Class 502 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: november-2011-picture-book-month

The book is about a bear who didn't want anyone to come to his house. He even had a sign in his door that said "No Visitors Allowed." One day, a cute little mouse came and bothered him enough times that the bear gave up and they became friends together.
My favorite part of the book was when the mouse would appear everywhere the bear would look. It reminded me of my sister: she's like the mouse and I'm like the bear, and everywhere I go she seems to be there.
Review by: Karen Alcantara.

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