I Promise

by David McPhail

"What's a promise?"

When Baby Bear asks Mother Bear this important question, she promises her cub that she will feed him, play with him, and do everything she can to keep him safe. But Baby Bear has more questions: What happens if you break a promise? Can his mother promise that he will always be happy?

In this sweetly poignant story from celebrated artist David McPhail, a loving parent has just the right words for explaining that some things in life simply can't be promised--but family love is forever.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Family, Fiction, Emotion

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 7, 2017

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

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Bear and his Momma discuss the nature of promises in this gentle, heartwarming picture-book from prolific author/artist David McPhail. From providing him with good things to eat, to listening to the things he tells her, Momma Bear promises Baby Bear many things, emphasizing in the process how important it is to keep one's word. Although she can't promise him that he will always be happy, Momma Bear does promise that she will always love him. Baby Bear, in his turn, promises that he will be good. Most of the time...

A lovely, emotionally resonant book, I Promise is suffused throughout with a feeling of love, and offers young children a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of promises - their power and their limitations. The artwork, done in pen and ink and watercolor, is just beautiful, capturing the playful, loving bond between mother and baby bear, and the beauty of the natural world around them, from waterfall to woods. Recommended to anyone looking for new reassurance stories for young children, as well as to those searching for picture-books about promises, and keeping one's word.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

From veteran David McPhail comes this charming tale of a young bear who learns about keeping promises.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute adult/child readaloud that explains what a promise is. Preschool-1

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet

[Jason Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a momma and baby bear who go about their day in the forest and the momma bear teaches the baby bear about the value of a promise. The illustrations in his book are full bleed double page spreads, and each image has a fuzzy quality to it. The text boxes are usually placed on the outside of an image so it complements the drawings and doesn’t distract you. The colors are bright sometimes but the heavy medium really makes the darker areas stand out which helps the contrast of colors. I think this is an ok book that does a good job telling their story and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful but I found the story to be a little bit simpler than what I was expecting. I really don’t know of anyway I would use this book in an educational setting aside from being a book to read to kindergarten and first grade as a good story.

[Clara]

I adored this book. This book seemed like exactly what every child wants their mom to be. It is about love and keeping promises. I think I would use this book to teach my primary aged students what it means to be a good person and a great friend.
my favorite quotes:
- (when the cub asked about how to amend a broken promise) "its not easy, that's why it's so important to keep it."
- I also promise to let you discover some things for yourself. I don't know everything!"
-Cub:"Do you promise I will always be happy?" Mom: "Oh I can't promise you that! Your happiness will depend mostly on you. But I will do everything I can to help."

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

A popular saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for, for you will surely get it."

I wish the following saying were equally popular: "Be careful what you PROMISE, for you will surely learn that every promise brings responsibility."

Quite early in this thought-provoking book, Baby Bear asks, "What's a promise?"

His mother answers, "A promise is when you say you will do something... and then do your very best to do it."

Although I'm giving FIVE STARS to this book, I think there's a very important distinction that the author glosses over. So I'll do my own glossing in a COMMENT below. Let me know what you think.

[Kelly Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother bear and baby bear discuss what a promise means in a very genuine way as they make their way through the day. The pictures and text flow as the story meanders like the brook the bears lay by in the illustrations. McPhail does a great job of guiding readers through what a promise without being preachy and makes it easy for even the youngest of readers to know what a promise means. Read this book with any child (or adult) who is having difficulties understanding what a promise means.

[Mrs. M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of I Promise before I read the book (I even requested it from the public library by mistake!), but it was a cute story about the promises made between a mom and her son and what it means to make a promise. I will be adding it to my “list of books I want to share with my own children someday”.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

McPhail writes a beautiful story of a mama bear explaining what a promise is to her baby bear. Baby bear asks what mama can promise him, and she gently guides him through the concept. It is a loving book and a beautiful way to explain this word to little ones.

[Josie Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book to use in a first day of school to introduce classroom rules and having a class contract. This is a good introduction for the teacher to talk about what she promises to do as the students teacher and what they promise to do in return.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lovely story about a mother bear and her cub having a chill day together just hanging out in the forest, doing bear things, and during all this the bear is learning from his mum what a promise is. Enjoyable illustrations.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! Cute book about parenthood

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet lesson!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet. A mother bear telling her baby bear all the things she can promise her. Great book to teach kids the importance of keeping their word. Good for twos and preschool.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and illustrated beautifully. Great way to teach about making promises, keeping promises and breaking promises.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edging on the schmaltzy. More for the grownups than the kids. McPhail has done better.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, soft-focus illustrations and a gentle storyline explaining promises.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good choice for snuggle time.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite of a perfect read. Has mama bear giving the best definition to what's a promise to a young one. The book is lovely. Beautiful illustrations. Its a must read.

[Paul Graham Terpstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool book about learning to make and keep promises. It’s important to keep your word.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Mother Bear and Baby Bear talk about promises and Mother Bear's care for the little one as they spend the day together.

[k · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I promise
To listen when you have something to say,
To give you good things to eat,
To teach you about growing up,
And to always love you - no matter what.”

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book showing the love between an momma bear and her baby bear… along with a good explanation of what the word promise means.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that teaches children what a promise is without being too preachy.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely story, teaches about promises, but has a nice family (mom/baby) component for the adults as well.

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 3 out of 5]

A baby bear learns from his mom just what a promise is and what different promises can be.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I PROMISE by David McPhail is a beautifully illustrated picture book featuring a mother bear and her cub.

This charming story follows a bear and her cub as they spend the day exploring the forest. Along the way, the cub learns about the meaning of the word “promise”.

Librarians will find this sweet story has a useful message that can be effectively woven into the primary grade curriculum.

To learn more about the author/illustrator, go to http://davidmcphailillustrations.com/.

Published by Little, Brown for Young Readers, an imprint of Hachette on March 7, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quintessential McPhail with a role model mother bear who says all the right things.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming, warm, and comforting.