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Big Brown Bear's Up and Down Day
Bear is big and bear is brown and bear lives all alone. But then one day someone comes along who gives him a few tips about the ups and downs of having a friend.
With warmth and a gentle wit, David McPhail brings together two unlikely chums (along with some oatmeal, a windup car, and two very comfy slippers).
With warmth and a gentle wit, David McPhail brings together two unlikely chums (along with some oatmeal, a windup car, and two very comfy slippers).
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
David McPhail
248 books96 followersDavid 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 11, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. The relationship between the bear and the rat was commical. The rat always had something up his sleeve. I like how the book could show the students about caring for others and sharing what you have with others. I could use this book in the classroom for students who might not enjoy reading for long periods of time because this book has very short chapters.
September 9, 2016
I thought the book was cute, but the kids seemed to not get it as much. Recommend for those older than 5.
May 28, 2023
"Friendship" is no mere object, like a chair or a bedroom bureau. Real-life friendship is a PROCESS, as I'd put it.
Talented picture book author and illustrator, David McPhail, has a child-friendly way teaching children about this: Up and Down.
This book alernates thinking like a child of picture book age...
With thinking like an adult.
Interesting. Intentional or not? Who knows.
But the chapters flow and the ending is very satisfyingly at age for a child. (Though no spoiler from me, no no!)
Talented picture book author and illustrator, David McPhail, has a child-friendly way teaching children about this: Up and Down.
This book alernates thinking like a child of picture book age...
With thinking like an adult.
Interesting. Intentional or not? Who knows.
But the chapters flow and the ending is very satisfyingly at age for a child. (Though no spoiler from me, no no!)
July 12, 2023
While the plot is not terribly original, there are other picture books with a bear who is visited by an annoying small creature and then the pair becomes friends ( as in 'Masha and the Bear' and 'A Visitor for Bear' etc), the story is good and the illustrations are pretty good too.
Not quite sure why some people rated it lower than 3 stars. It's a perfectly good amusing story.
The thing that annoyed me a little are those enormous feet. How do they manage to sqeeze into those small slippers? Are bears' feet like cats' bodies? I don't think so.
Not quite sure why some people rated it lower than 3 stars. It's a perfectly good amusing story.
The thing that annoyed me a little are those enormous feet. How do they manage to sqeeze into those small slippers? Are bears' feet like cats' bodies? I don't think so.
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February 8, 2021Big Brown Bear's up and down day by David McPhail was an very entertaining book and I loved. This book shows kids friendship and although you cant trust someone to still be nice to them. This was funny and I could actually se this book being a TV show.
May 27, 2017
A very nice tale
March 4, 2018
Very nice art and a cute story. Plot was good and held attention of my active 4 year old.
June 18, 2020
Lovely story. Lovely.
May 3, 2021
Big brown bear makes a new friend and through a few short tales learn about each other and how they can help one another. Elementary and up
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May 20, 2022BookTree
S&E loved it!
S&E loved it!
May 21, 2015
Similar to Louise's Big Adventure, this book is broken down into three chapters. Each story involves the same characters and is a continuation of the previous chapter. Too long to read the whole book to younger children, but would work with preschool or K. Brown bear and rat get off on the wrong foot when rat tries to steal bear's slipper, but they grow to be nice to each other, if not friends by the end of the book.
August 8, 2012
Big Brown Bear lives by himself and one day a little rat shows up wanting to take one of Bear's slippers for his bed. It takes awhile, but Bear finally comes to realize that the little rat just wants a friend like Bear.
April 6, 2009
Nice, happy book.
June 18, 2011
zane really loves big brown bear!
November 5, 2012
i think it was awesome
March 6, 2013
"Big Brown Bear woke up and opened his eyes."
This was a fun little story. The illustrations fit the silly things the characters do.
This was a fun little story. The illustrations fit the silly things the characters do.
January 25, 2014
In this cute picture with nice illustrations the solitary Bear learns the pros and cons of having a friend when Rat comes a-knocking on his door.
September 13, 2016
A nice story with a sweet ending.
January 22, 2012
Fun positive story. Nice read aloud.
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May 2, 2019Summary:
This is a book about a bear's day, start to finish, and the many things that occur during it. Some things go right, while others go wrong for him. When he wakes up, he argues with a rat who wants to steal his slipper. Next, he went to fix oatmeal and the rat informs him that he has won a trip. This trip is called an up or down trip. The bear reluctantly and hesitently agrees but first they eat the oatmeal. He played baseball, changed into an old sweater, sorts his toys, and does other things with the Rat. Finally, the bear decides that through it all, this rat is good company and he lets him sleep in his slipper fom that point on.
My Thoughts:
I didn't really like this book. It was a bit random and didn't seem like it flowed super well chronologically. I liked the blooming friendship that eventually happened between the bear and the rat, because the bear was clearly in need of a friend. His days were lonely and he was grumpy because he didn't have a lot of friends.
Classroom Usage:
I would use this as a creative writing opportunity to have the students write about two unlikely animals that became friends in an unconvientional way. I like this story for this aspect, and it would be a good story of friendship to talk about in class.
This is a book about a bear's day, start to finish, and the many things that occur during it. Some things go right, while others go wrong for him. When he wakes up, he argues with a rat who wants to steal his slipper. Next, he went to fix oatmeal and the rat informs him that he has won a trip. This trip is called an up or down trip. The bear reluctantly and hesitently agrees but first they eat the oatmeal. He played baseball, changed into an old sweater, sorts his toys, and does other things with the Rat. Finally, the bear decides that through it all, this rat is good company and he lets him sleep in his slipper fom that point on.
My Thoughts:
I didn't really like this book. It was a bit random and didn't seem like it flowed super well chronologically. I liked the blooming friendship that eventually happened between the bear and the rat, because the bear was clearly in need of a friend. His days were lonely and he was grumpy because he didn't have a lot of friends.
Classroom Usage:
I would use this as a creative writing opportunity to have the students write about two unlikely animals that became friends in an unconvientional way. I like this story for this aspect, and it would be a good story of friendship to talk about in class.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews