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Irving and Muktuk
Bad Bears in the Big City: An Irving & Muktuk Story
Irving and Muktuk have arrived from Yellowtooth in the frozen North to their new home in the Bayonne, New Jersey, Zoo. There they meet another polar bear, Roy, who tells them about his life outside the zoo. Roy goes home every night at six when the zoo closes. After a week of swimming, eating fish and the occasional muffin thrown to them by zoo visitors, playing, and taking naps, Irving and Muktuk feel bored and restless. They decide to explore life outside the walls and go in search of Roy and more muffins. Soon their escape is discovered and the zookeepers, the zoo director, and the police are called. Are these polar bears to be trusted?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2004
26 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Pinkwater
156 books423 followersDaniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 4, 2020
Newly arrived at the Bayonne, New Jersey, Zoo, Irving and Muktuk, two bad bears with a penchant for stealing blueberry muffins, have some trouble settling into their new life. It's not easy going straight when your new home is next to a muffin factory, and your new friend gets to leave the zoo at the end of the day. What are two bears to do, but set out to explore the city...?
The second hilarious picture book featuring Irving and Muktuk, Bad Bears in the Big City features some classic Pinkwater dialogue, with its perfect comic timing, and dead-pan delivery. Jill Pinkwater's droll illustrations are a perfect complement to the story, whether she's depicting the sly expressions on the Bad Bears' faces, or their tired contentment while "chilling out" on top of some frozen peas. This is an addictive series, and will have young readers clamoring for more.
The second hilarious picture book featuring Irving and Muktuk, Bad Bears in the Big City features some classic Pinkwater dialogue, with its perfect comic timing, and dead-pan delivery. Jill Pinkwater's droll illustrations are a perfect complement to the story, whether she's depicting the sly expressions on the Bad Bears' faces, or their tired contentment while "chilling out" on top of some frozen peas. This is an addictive series, and will have young readers clamoring for more.
January 17, 2015
I can't see how you can read this without understanding that these are "bears" cruisin' the city's YMCAs. Which makes this book SO GREAT.
June 9, 2018
It's pretty good, but not as great as the first one. The best part was when I&M pass for humans because they are wearing hats. The frozen peas bit is pretty good, too. Everyone seems really indignant that they would treat frozen peas like that. As if frozen carrots would be any better.
In the Pinkwater polar bear chronology, this seems to fit in between Young Larry and At the Hotel Larry. This book shows them meeting up with Roy at the zoo, and they're already at the zoo with Roy in At the Hotel Larry.
In the Pinkwater polar bear chronology, this seems to fit in between Young Larry and At the Hotel Larry. This book shows them meeting up with Roy at the zoo, and they're already at the zoo with Roy in At the Hotel Larry.
October 21, 2008
I’d resigned myself to reading these Irving & Muktuk Two Bad Bear books out of order. I’d read Irving and Muktuk: Two Bad Bears and I do think that’s the first book. Either this book actually is the second of five (so far) or Daniel Pinkwater writes them so that reading them in any order makes sense. Each book can stand own.
This book was slightly less hilarious, although still very funny, than the first. It also had more poignancy as the three polar bears (Irving and Muktuk and their new friend Roy) look for cold, which makes sense for polar bears to do, via freezers, air conditioners, fans, and frozen peas in the frozen food section of a supermarket. But in these books muffins are the bears’ ultimate prize goal. The expressions on the bears are so cute. The story and pictures make the perfect book for young kids, and I might add, everybody. This one was written in a slightly different tone than the first, enough so that I noticed the different style.
I’m eager to read the other three Irving & Muktuk books that I have currently on reserve at the library and should have soon. These books are the perfect antidote to all that’s stressful about the world. They are very sweet and provide smiles and laugh out loud moments.
This book was slightly less hilarious, although still very funny, than the first. It also had more poignancy as the three polar bears (Irving and Muktuk and their new friend Roy) look for cold, which makes sense for polar bears to do, via freezers, air conditioners, fans, and frozen peas in the frozen food section of a supermarket. But in these books muffins are the bears’ ultimate prize goal. The expressions on the bears are so cute. The story and pictures make the perfect book for young kids, and I might add, everybody. This one was written in a slightly different tone than the first, enough so that I noticed the different style.
I’m eager to read the other three Irving & Muktuk books that I have currently on reserve at the library and should have soon. These books are the perfect antidote to all that’s stressful about the world. They are very sweet and provide smiles and laugh out loud moments.
February 16, 2015
Booklist March 1, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 13)
K-Gr. 3. Irving and Muktuk, the nefarious polar bears last seen in Two Bad Bears (2001), have been sent to a zoo in Bayonne, New Jersey, as punishment for transgressions in their Alaskan town. At the zoo, they meet the resident polar bear, Roy, who has his own apartment and clocks out of the zoo every night after it closes. Since they aren't to be trusted, Irving and Muktuk have to stay in their apartment in the zoo, but they soon grow bored and escape, disguised as rakishly capped figures. Their objective is the nearby muffin factory (muffins are a passion), but they are discovered and forced back to the zoo. It is unlikely, however, given the looks on their faces on the final page, that they are on the way to muffin rehabilitation. The droll, understated text and Jill Pinkwater's simple, expressive, marker-and-ink illustrations perfectly capture the cheekiness of this story of bears gone bad and proud of it.
Horn Book Fall 2004
In the latest Irving and Muktuk installment, the muffin-loving polar bears are shipped to the Bayonne, New Jersey, zoo with a note that they aren't to be trusted. In this droll but unfocused story, the bears sneak off to visit a polar bear who leaves the zoo each night for his own apartment. The ink and felt-tip illustrations are agreeable if repetitive.
Kirkus Reviews February 15, 2004
Welcome back the Pinkwaters' Irving and Muktuk, two mischief-making polar bears with a muffin fixation. Here they're sent, in chains, to a zoo in New Jersey that happens to be adjacent to a muffin factory (karmic coincidence). Their mate in the zoo is Roy, a time-clock-punching polar bear with his own apartment. Irving and Muktuk, with their muffin-absconding rap sheet, aren't afforded such latitude. Not to mention, notes Roy, "they are afraid you might eat people." As if struck by lightning, they ask, "You can eat people?" Roy replies, "Don't even think about it." Loose cannons, Irving and Muktuk stage a zoo-break, joining a tour of the muffin factory to satisfy their craving. They're nabbed when found sleeping in the frozen-pea section of a nearby supermarket. The spare line drawings perfectly capture these strange, gratifying bears-two ursines who are always a step west of our expectations. (Picture book. 4-8)
Library Media Connection November/December 2004
Irving and Muktuk are on their way to the big city from Yellowtooth. Well, to the big city zoo. They arrive, not in a box or a crate, but rather they amble down the stairs with the other passengers. The zookeeper does not see them, even though they are rather large polar bears wearing handcuffs and chains. A letter from Officer Bunny of Yellowtooth accompanies the bears. He writes, "These bears are not to be trusted." They notice right away that next to the zoo is a very large muffin factory. Irving and Muktuk meet Roy, who shows them the ropes of living and working at the zoo. Roy doesn't live at the zoo; he has his own apartment. Roy tells them they can't have their own apartment because the zoo director thinks they are going to eat people. All they really want are more muffins. The zoo is closed on Mondays and Irving and Muktuk decide to escape. They manage to go on a tour of the muffin factory with some children. Only at the very end does anyone discover that they are bears (because they are eating all the muffins!) The illustrations are cheerful and happy, capturing the personality of the bears. Irving and Muktuk will appeal to all who love animal fun. Recommended. Ruie Chehak, Library Media Specialist, Sallie Jones Elementary School, Punta Gorda, Florida
Publishers Weekly February 16, 2004
Bad Bears in the Big City: An Irving and Muktuk Story by Daniel Pinkwater, illus. by Jill Pinkwater, finds the muffin-thieving polar bears sent in shackles from their home in Yellowtooth to the Bayonne, N.J., zoo. A note from Yellowtooth's Officer Bunny ("We hope you enjoy our bears. Remember, they are not to be trusted!") ensures that the bears are confined to the zoo, but the muffin factory next door provides too great a temptation. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal April 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 3-In this zany sequel to the Pinkwaters' Irving and Muktuk: Two Bad Bears (Houghton, 2001), the incorrigible, muffin-loving polar bears are sent to a zoo in Bayonne, NJ, along with a letter stating that they are not to be trusted. Craving their favorite food, they make plans to break into the muffin factory next door. Using their pillows and blankets to make an ingenious disguise, they sneak into the building with a school tour group. When they are discovered, they run and hide in the freezer section of a local supermarket. Roy, a better-behaved polar bear, finds them and returns them to the zoo. This book mentions but does not explain the pair's muffin-stealing past and will make the most sense to readers who are familiar with its predecessor. The lighthearted cartoons reflect the mood of the humorous text. The pure white bears drawn with thin, free black outlines contrast with the backgrounds, which are often illustrated with bright complementary colors. Pinkwater's many fans will enjoy the further adventures of these mischievous creatures.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
K-Gr. 3. Irving and Muktuk, the nefarious polar bears last seen in Two Bad Bears (2001), have been sent to a zoo in Bayonne, New Jersey, as punishment for transgressions in their Alaskan town. At the zoo, they meet the resident polar bear, Roy, who has his own apartment and clocks out of the zoo every night after it closes. Since they aren't to be trusted, Irving and Muktuk have to stay in their apartment in the zoo, but they soon grow bored and escape, disguised as rakishly capped figures. Their objective is the nearby muffin factory (muffins are a passion), but they are discovered and forced back to the zoo. It is unlikely, however, given the looks on their faces on the final page, that they are on the way to muffin rehabilitation. The droll, understated text and Jill Pinkwater's simple, expressive, marker-and-ink illustrations perfectly capture the cheekiness of this story of bears gone bad and proud of it.
Horn Book Fall 2004
In the latest Irving and Muktuk installment, the muffin-loving polar bears are shipped to the Bayonne, New Jersey, zoo with a note that they aren't to be trusted. In this droll but unfocused story, the bears sneak off to visit a polar bear who leaves the zoo each night for his own apartment. The ink and felt-tip illustrations are agreeable if repetitive.
Kirkus Reviews February 15, 2004
Welcome back the Pinkwaters' Irving and Muktuk, two mischief-making polar bears with a muffin fixation. Here they're sent, in chains, to a zoo in New Jersey that happens to be adjacent to a muffin factory (karmic coincidence). Their mate in the zoo is Roy, a time-clock-punching polar bear with his own apartment. Irving and Muktuk, with their muffin-absconding rap sheet, aren't afforded such latitude. Not to mention, notes Roy, "they are afraid you might eat people." As if struck by lightning, they ask, "You can eat people?" Roy replies, "Don't even think about it." Loose cannons, Irving and Muktuk stage a zoo-break, joining a tour of the muffin factory to satisfy their craving. They're nabbed when found sleeping in the frozen-pea section of a nearby supermarket. The spare line drawings perfectly capture these strange, gratifying bears-two ursines who are always a step west of our expectations. (Picture book. 4-8)
Library Media Connection November/December 2004
Irving and Muktuk are on their way to the big city from Yellowtooth. Well, to the big city zoo. They arrive, not in a box or a crate, but rather they amble down the stairs with the other passengers. The zookeeper does not see them, even though they are rather large polar bears wearing handcuffs and chains. A letter from Officer Bunny of Yellowtooth accompanies the bears. He writes, "These bears are not to be trusted." They notice right away that next to the zoo is a very large muffin factory. Irving and Muktuk meet Roy, who shows them the ropes of living and working at the zoo. Roy doesn't live at the zoo; he has his own apartment. Roy tells them they can't have their own apartment because the zoo director thinks they are going to eat people. All they really want are more muffins. The zoo is closed on Mondays and Irving and Muktuk decide to escape. They manage to go on a tour of the muffin factory with some children. Only at the very end does anyone discover that they are bears (because they are eating all the muffins!) The illustrations are cheerful and happy, capturing the personality of the bears. Irving and Muktuk will appeal to all who love animal fun. Recommended. Ruie Chehak, Library Media Specialist, Sallie Jones Elementary School, Punta Gorda, Florida
Publishers Weekly February 16, 2004
Bad Bears in the Big City: An Irving and Muktuk Story by Daniel Pinkwater, illus. by Jill Pinkwater, finds the muffin-thieving polar bears sent in shackles from their home in Yellowtooth to the Bayonne, N.J., zoo. A note from Yellowtooth's Officer Bunny ("We hope you enjoy our bears. Remember, they are not to be trusted!") ensures that the bears are confined to the zoo, but the muffin factory next door provides too great a temptation. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal April 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 3-In this zany sequel to the Pinkwaters' Irving and Muktuk: Two Bad Bears (Houghton, 2001), the incorrigible, muffin-loving polar bears are sent to a zoo in Bayonne, NJ, along with a letter stating that they are not to be trusted. Craving their favorite food, they make plans to break into the muffin factory next door. Using their pillows and blankets to make an ingenious disguise, they sneak into the building with a school tour group. When they are discovered, they run and hide in the freezer section of a local supermarket. Roy, a better-behaved polar bear, finds them and returns them to the zoo. This book mentions but does not explain the pair's muffin-stealing past and will make the most sense to readers who are familiar with its predecessor. The lighthearted cartoons reflect the mood of the humorous text. The pure white bears drawn with thin, free black outlines contrast with the backgrounds, which are often illustrated with bright complementary colors. Pinkwater's many fans will enjoy the further adventures of these mischievous creatures.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2017
This book is about two polar bears, Irving and Muktuk, who are transferred to a new zoo after causing problems at their previous location. This book explores the adventures that Irving and Muktuk have at this new city. They meet another polar bear named Roy, who has his own apartment. They want the same rights as roy
Pinkwater, D. M., & Pinkwater, J. (2003). Bad Bears in the big city. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Pinkwater, D. M., & Pinkwater, J. (2003). Bad Bears in the big city. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
March 31, 2019
After being sent to the zoo in Bayonne, New Jersey from Yellowtooth in the frozen north by Sheriff Bunny for stealing muffins, Irving and Mutuk meet a polar bear named Roy who befriends them, and has his own apartment. Irving and Mutuk sneak out of the zoo, and into the muffin factory next door. Once they are caught Roy becomes responsible to keep the bad bears out of trouble.
November 18, 2022
I read books to my sons, not enough apparently.
This was among my favorites.
I love the Pinkwaters and i am very fond of Irving and Muktuk.
Like Babar, and like myself at acertain age, Irving and Muktuk adapt well to the big city. They manage to explain their nature to the zookeepers and other officials. I am so happy that it all worked out.
This was among my favorites.
I love the Pinkwaters and i am very fond of Irving and Muktuk.
Like Babar, and like myself at acertain age, Irving and Muktuk adapt well to the big city. They manage to explain their nature to the zookeepers and other officials. I am so happy that it all worked out.
October 3, 2017
Irving and Muktuk are shipped to the United States to live in a zoo. They are given pillows. They play cards. They are not to be trusted. All they want is to steal muffins from the muffin factory next door. They promise not to eat people.
There's your story.
There's your story.
January 4, 2019
I like how the bad bears are considered bad and are not seen as redeemable. THey are not so bad, though, so it doesn't much matter.
January 4, 2023
We love the little kids books of Pinkwater - irreverent, odd, hilarious. Not sure how great they’d be for actual kids but we love them as adults!
April 20, 2023
This series is very funny and can be enjoyed by kids and adults. Illustrated by Jill Pinkwater the art is a delight.
September 19, 2023
Got a few chuckles because it is weird. But overall it is kinda lame
June 1, 2009
I was disappointed and uncomfortable while reading this to my daughter. She kept asking me why the bears were called bad. I think we would have enjoyed the story more if there was not so much emphasis on the bear's behaviour being bad or everyone around them expecting them to be bad. Their behaviour seemed perfectly natural to me. Who would want to be locked up in a zoo? Who would want to eat dried up bear pellet food over yummy muffins?
September 12, 2011
I read this as one of the 'destination stories' for my creative voyages drama camp. The kids and I enjoyed it. A quick and silly read that parents may enjoy reading along with the little ones. Jill's illustrations are quite humorous, too.Now I want to read the rest of the the bad bears books. Mmmmmm- muffins!
December 17, 2011
I do not see how this is a good children's book overall. It is all about the two bears stealing and not learning anything from it. I do like that another bear takes them in to try and help them to reform.
November 10, 2012
the sentence structure is simple so that would be good for an early reader. funny book. open ended ending. could dialogue with kids about how to solve the various problems the bears encounter in this book.
August 2, 2015
I have a hard time with rating this. On one hand, the kids loved it. On the story lacked any kind of moral value. These bears can't be trusted to behave and are bad, but they're not given a chance either. But my kids love it, do I suppose if it's encouraging them to enjoy books, that's something.
November 24, 2008
This one is a little dissapointing, but one needs to read it to keep the continuity of the story going... ;-)
March 17, 2010
This was my 2nd Irving & Muktuk book. Same problems as the first book, kind of choppy writing, with some jokes that fell flat. But still a cute book, with illustrations I enjoy.
November 10, 2011
I'm usually a fan of Daniel Pinkwater, but this one didn't do much for me.
May 3, 2013
My son actually stopped me part way through and requested that I read him something else instead.
November 5, 2015
bears
sophisticated scene
bears behaving badly
sophisticated scene
bears behaving badly
April 27, 2017
Oh goodness. Irving and Muktuk remind me so much of some Jr. High students I used to know, and of certain young teens. Bluffing insecurities and desires by covering them up with an attitude, and being too smart, too capable of the con, for their own good.
The Pinkwaters are both crazy, in their own wonderful ways (at least as expressed in their collaborations).
Though these do each stand alone, they're even better read in order, imo.
The Pinkwaters are both crazy, in their own wonderful ways (at least as expressed in their collaborations).
Though these do each stand alone, they're even better read in order, imo.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews