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Max
Sam's Teddy Bear
In this funny picture book, a toddler named Sam, who knows what he wants, needs Doggie's help to save his teddy bear from a terrible fate.
32 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Barbro Lindgren
186 books39 followers Barbro Enskog was born in Bromma, Stockholm. She graduated from art school in 1958 and has been writing books for publication since 1965. Her style has exerted a major influence on Swedish children's literature. Located between realism and surrealism, her works are humorous and imaginative, and her books for children treat important issues to be taken seriously and treated for children.
Early in her career Barbro Lindgren won the 1973 Astrid Lindgren Prize, an annual Swedish literary award distinct from the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. The once-in-a-lifetime award established on Astrid Lindgren's 60th birthday honours good writing for children or youth. Barbro Lindgren's long-time collaborator, the illustrator Eva Eriksson (born 1949), won the Prize in 2001.
Early in her career Barbro Lindgren won the 1973 Astrid Lindgren Prize, an annual Swedish literary award distinct from the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. The once-in-a-lifetime award established on Astrid Lindgren's 60th birthday honours good writing for children or youth. Barbro Lindgren's long-time collaborator, the illustrator Eva Eriksson (born 1949), won the Prize in 2001.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 15, 2018
Max will quickly find his way into the hearts of many small children. With his dandelion-halo of hair, cute smile, and dressed in a white jumpsuit he looks ready to be picked up for a cuddle.
This simple, yet heartfelt story shows Max playing in bed with his much-loved bear, and watched by his faithful dog who acts out his own frisky behaviour. The dramatic, humorous tale is an astute study of children’s emotions and how quickly joy can turn to tears then back to smiles again in a short timespan.
The illustrations showcase the interaction between the three characters. Yet, there’s an object in Max’s bedroom that plays an integral part in the drama. The bear’s plight, Max’s despair, and dog’s heroic rescue are brilliantly portrayed by the artist.
The board book is sheer pleasure encapsulated in a small, sturdy package. A coating on the pages allows them to be wiped clean after sticky fingers have explored the illustrations.
Parents and toddlers will love all three board books in the set. Other titles are: Max’s Wagon and Max’s Bath.
Reviewed by Jean Bennett (Bookrapt)
This simple, yet heartfelt story shows Max playing in bed with his much-loved bear, and watched by his faithful dog who acts out his own frisky behaviour. The dramatic, humorous tale is an astute study of children’s emotions and how quickly joy can turn to tears then back to smiles again in a short timespan.
The illustrations showcase the interaction between the three characters. Yet, there’s an object in Max’s bedroom that plays an integral part in the drama. The bear’s plight, Max’s despair, and dog’s heroic rescue are brilliantly portrayed by the artist.
The board book is sheer pleasure encapsulated in a small, sturdy package. A coating on the pages allows them to be wiped clean after sticky fingers have explored the illustrations.
Parents and toddlers will love all three board books in the set. Other titles are: Max’s Wagon and Max’s Bath.
Reviewed by Jean Bennett (Bookrapt)
January 25, 2022
Adorable and fun. Te text is simple and fun. My daughter loved these stories when she was a toddler. The illustrations are absolutely adorable too.
February 11, 2016
The board book is an odd beast and one that it's very easy to get wrong. They're books that revel less in the text and more in the experience; of the pushing, the pulling, the chewing and the tasting. Board books are the books that teach you what reading is; that it happens in the crook of your mother's arms, or at bedtime, and they teach you that this experience is good and that it is fun. They are the guidelines of the bookish world, robust and stubbornly built things that teach little ones about the world around them whilst also surviving that phase of interaction with said little one.
I love Max's Bear; part of the Max series by Barbro Lindgren. I've reviewed Max's Wagon beforehand, and Max's Bear is a similarly glorious thing. So is Max's Bath, by the way, and I would happily recommend a set of these being purchased as an early reading present. They are classy, classy books; rich too, in that quiet and subtle way, and a genuine delight. Sometimes board books can border on the edge of impracticality; clever paper folds and tricks that won't last a moment, or garish and poorly constructed storytelling that's done with very little skill. These books are lovely, lovely things.
Max's Bear is a simple, clean story that is well told. Each double page has text on the left; a sentence on a simple white page (the longest in the book is six words), accompanied by a dreamy image on the right hand side. As ever with good picture books, the images give so, so much to long and leisurely investigation.
At the start of the book, Max is asleep. Upon being woken by his dog, Max produces his bear and starts to play with it. Underneath his bed, Max's dog starts to chew on shoes in a contented distraction. The dog climbs into Max's bed. Max throws the bear up in the air, and it lands in his potty. The dog realises that something's gone wrong, gets off the bed and rescues the bear before bringing him back to Max. Happiness is restored.
It is lovely.
I love Max's Bear; part of the Max series by Barbro Lindgren. I've reviewed Max's Wagon beforehand, and Max's Bear is a similarly glorious thing. So is Max's Bath, by the way, and I would happily recommend a set of these being purchased as an early reading present. They are classy, classy books; rich too, in that quiet and subtle way, and a genuine delight. Sometimes board books can border on the edge of impracticality; clever paper folds and tricks that won't last a moment, or garish and poorly constructed storytelling that's done with very little skill. These books are lovely, lovely things.
Max's Bear is a simple, clean story that is well told. Each double page has text on the left; a sentence on a simple white page (the longest in the book is six words), accompanied by a dreamy image on the right hand side. As ever with good picture books, the images give so, so much to long and leisurely investigation.
At the start of the book, Max is asleep. Upon being woken by his dog, Max produces his bear and starts to play with it. Underneath his bed, Max's dog starts to chew on shoes in a contented distraction. The dog climbs into Max's bed. Max throws the bear up in the air, and it lands in his potty. The dog realises that something's gone wrong, gets off the bed and rescues the bear before bringing him back to Max. Happiness is restored.
It is lovely.
May 9, 2010
Read this to my daughter while we waited in the doctor's office. Who would write tripe like this? It was so dreadful my wife and I laughed out loud at it.
I like books with little lessons, but the only thing to learn here is that it's okay to lick your teddy bear, even if he's fallen in the potty (and been pulled out by the dog) at least once. (Perhaps more often?)
Yuck
I like books with little lessons, but the only thing to learn here is that it's okay to lick your teddy bear, even if he's fallen in the potty (and been pulled out by the dog) at least once. (Perhaps more often?)
Yuck
Read
September 9, 2013I was liking this well enough until Sam not only licked, but bit his teddy bear, and then threw his teddy bear into the potty. Seems rather unhygienic somehow. (Not to mention, disrespectful to teddy bears.)
December 12, 2009
Sam loves this book and the others in the series. A good Swedish boy named Sam with a trusty dog who always saves the day - how could Sam not like it?
April 7, 2014
love Sam
December 7, 2014
Cute illustrations, poor dialogue.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews