Big Brown Bear: A Gentle and Humorous Rhyming Story About Tree House Mischief for Kids

Green Light Readers Level 1

by David McPhail

Bear is very big, very brown, and very busy. His tree house could use a little sprucing up, so Bear heads up the ladder with a plan and a bucket of paint. But Little Bear has a plan, too--including a little mischief that brings Bear (and his blue paint tumbling down to earth. With gentle rhymes and humor, award-winning author and illustrator David McPhail creates a cheery and bumptious bear hug of a story.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Spanish Literature, Animals, Fiction

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

David was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts and attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. While there, he began illustrating. He is now an award-winning author and illustrator of nearly 200 books beloved by children, parents and librarians across the United States. McPhail has garnered many prestigious awards, including a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Mole Music in 2001. McPhail’s other books include First Flight, which the New York Times praised as “hilarious and helpful”; and Lost!, which was chosen as an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.

McPhail has four children, three stepchildren, and is a proud grandfather. He is married to Jan Waldron, with whom he has written and illustrated several books. He lives in Rye, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainy days are great time to catch up on reading...this was a fun book to read. Understood all the words in Spanish, was very happy about that. So hard to learn another language when you get older; I really wish I had been more studious when I was learning Spanish long ago. But it just means I have to work harder now!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect beginning reader! Repetitive and predictable language, but still has a plot and a funny ending. Love it!

[PA Caminos West Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that rhymes in English (but not in the Spanish). This book is meant for beginning readers. The drawings are lovely and somewhat realistic. Big Bear suffers one of the little mishaps that often happen when trying to get something done. Gentle humor on the accidents that happen and how to just keep going.

Un cuento que rima en inglés pero en español no. Este libro está hecho para lectores principiantes. Me encantan las ilustraciones. Son algo realistas. El gran oso pardo sufre uno de los pequeños percances que a menudo ocurren al intentar hacer algo. Humor suave sobre los accidentes que ocurren y cómo seguir adelante.

escr: A. Boyer
ed: S. Ramirez

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early elementary easy reader about a bear trying to work on his house and constantly being interrupted.

[Arlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

lindo <3 it's a very simple and cute story

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children absolutely adore this book. Reading literature is so important to the development of a child's mind, and I cannot think of thing I would rather do then sit down to read to them in the evenings. Imagination and growth are so vital in those so young.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear goes to climb the ladder with his blue paint, get bumped into by a little bear, fall and get covered with blue, wash up, obtain some green paint, and go back up the ladder, just as another little bear on a tricycle careens toward him…..
This book is suitable for beginning readers who are just starting to sound out words and sentences on their own. Wonderful illustrations combined with simple words, fun rhymes and rhythms in familiar situations.

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

requested several times; pb can read it

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Big Brown bear is trying to get some things done but little bear keeps getting in the way.

[Deeanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute rhyming book with funny pictures.

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book with english and spanish on each page... geared toward younger children but still entertaining.

[Kara]

Fun read for my daughter

[Elanor]

All by herself!

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both English and Spanish on each page.