Something to Do

by David Lucas

Strolling about in the vast white landscape, hoping to find something interesting to do, Little Bear and Big Bear devise the perfect solution to their problem when they break a stick in two, begin to draw and use their imaginations to create entertaining scenarios in which they play the starring roles.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Animals, Fantasy, Fiction, Art

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

David Lucas has written and illustrated several books for children and was named a Booktrust Best New Illustrator. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Jen]

Aidan loves this book, especially that there is a bubba, dada and mommy bear in it. Although, mom only comes out at the end (and he wants to know where she is the rest of the book, hee hee) Very cute simple text and pictures. Kinda like harold's purple crayon with bears. :)

[The Library Lady]

Cute if unoriginal. Unfortunately, the pictures are SO childlike and the crayon strokes so real looking I fear this will return to the library with kids' additions to the artwork.

[Olivia S]

Meh. This was okay. Simple text and images about finding something to do when there's nothing to do. Wouldn't bother with.

[Cassie Veselovsky]

I did something that I always try hard to avoid – I read other reviews of this book before I wrote my own. That’s a big no-no, because instead of writing only my feelings of the book, it makes me want to defend it (if there are bad reviews) and so I spend my time writing why those people are wrong instead of simply stating my opinion of the story. I can’t help myself. Such is the case with Something to Do by David Lucas. I found that people kept comparing the title to Not a stick and Not a Box by Antoinette Portis and I want to say “Have you read those books? Really?” because you see, if they did, they would realize that yes all the titles are similar in that they show how wonderful the imagination can be, but that’s it…. there is a story to be told here, and in Portis’ titles, there is not (I love them, by the way, but I don’t think it’s fair to compare them). Now, comparisons to Harold and the Purple Crayon are a >little bit< more understandable, but still, my brain keeps screaming WHY COMPARE THEM!?!? Much loved, adorable Harold was written in 1955…. Is it not safe yet for someone to come up with a similar tale for a new generation?! Can no one else yet write with a crayon/stick/utensil? Is it not safe yet to venture into the world of imagination?!? Try this: give Something to Do to a child and see what happens. Read the story with them. Talk about the illustrations, what’s happening in the story, and maybe pull out some paper and some crayons or find a stick on a beach and doodle together too. Don’t just think, “Oooo the dad bear drew a ladder to the moon – why did the author have to go and copy Eric Carle?!?”

[Cheryl]

If only it were a little bit less like the other books that other reviewers name. I want to say there's a reason to explore another take on the theme... but if there is, Lucas didn't find it. In my opinion.

Also, another star off because there's always something to do. Read a book, or, yes, go for a walk and doodle with a stick. But if you whine of boredom, you'll be told that now's a good time to pick up your toys and sort the basket of clean socks....

But the illustration style charms me, and Lucas meant well I'm sure. It's not a bad book, just pointless. I wish he'd use his talent to say something fresh. (This is the second book by him that I've read today and the other is unoriginal, too.)

[Abby Hargreaves]

A soft, minimalist illustration style really brings home the theme of imagination in David Lucas's Something to Do. Soothing and quiet, this picture book is an overlooked gem with a simple narrative of a couple of bears looking for something to do. Lucas uses bare text to great effect and lives the reader with the warm fuzzies.

[Meredith]

Daddy Bear and Baby Bear find something to do.

After Little Bear expresses his boredom, he and Big Bear take a walk and go on a Harold and the Purple Crayon type adventure.

[Connie T.]

Much like "Harold and the Purple Crayon" a papa bear and his cub draw a variety of scenarios to pass the time when there's nothing to do. Unlike Harold, this book is more engaging and the drawings offer more depth.

[Kelly]

It is a cute story. A little in the shadow of "Harold and the Purple Crayon."

[Cassie]

I did something that I always try hard to avoid – I read other reviews of this book before I wrote my own. That’s a big no-no, because instead of writing only my feelings of the book, it makes me want to defend it (if there are bad reviews) and so I spend my time writing why those people are wrong instead of simply stating my opinion of the story. I can’t help myself. Such is the case with Something to Do by David Lucas. I found that people kept comparing the title to Not a stick and Not a Box by Antoinette Portis and I want to say “Have you read those books? Really?” because you see, if they did, they would realize that yes all the titles are similar in that they show how wonderful the imagination can be, but that’s it…. there is a story to be told here, and in Portis’ titles, there is not (I love them, by the way, but I don’t think it’s fair to compare them). Now, comparisons to Harold and the Purple Crayon are a >little bit< more understandable, but still, my brain keeps screaming WHY COMPARE THEM!?!? Much loved, adorable Harold was written in 1955…. Is it not safe yet for someone to come up with a similar tale for a new generation?! Can no one else yet write with a crayon/stick/utensil? Is it not safe yet to venture into the world of imagination?!? Try this: give Something to Do to a child and see what happens. Read the story with them. Talk about the illustrations, what’s happening in the story, and maybe pull out some paper and some crayons or find a stick on a beach and doodle together too. Don’t just think, “Oooo the dad bear drew a ladder to the moon – why did the author have to go and copy Eric Carle?!?”

[Christine Turner]

A celebration of the imagination reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon.Big Bear and Little Bear want to find something to do. So they head out for a walk in the great white open�yet still, nothing. But when one of them picks up a stick, snaps it in half, and starts to draw a landscape, they realize that the only limit to what they can do is their imagination. And with these two, it turns out their imaginations are as open as the sky.Parents will welcome and children will love this funny, fresh, and adorable new book tackling the age-old misconception that there�s simply �nothing to do.�


I have read this book is storytime and it works well for many ages. Charming.

Subjects


Bears -- Juvenile fiction


Parent and child -- Juvenile fiction


Imagination -- Juvenile fiction

[Jennifer]

Drawn on cream colored pages, the illustrations mimic a crayon medium, minimal in its simplicity. Good story for toddlers and preschoolers and expanding their imagination. Story starts off with two bears with nothing to do. They find a stick. That's something! It is snapped in two and then becomes their drawing utensil. With it, they draw a ladder which gets them to the moon where they draw some stars where they see a shooting star and then, when they get hungry, they jump down to their house.

The book and story are ok. But I like the idea of asking a toddler questions about the pages and story and helping them imagine the book. The amazon synopsis describes the book as "reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon." (http://www.amazon.com/Something-Do-Da...)

[Carol]

"Something to Do" is a nice book. I think the art is stronger than the story. My young charge and I totally LOVED the end papers - a daytime snow storm to start, a storm at night to finish. Wonderful! The art is seductively clear and simple. Like Tad Hills, David Lucas is inviting his young (and read-aloud old) readers to engage with the story and, perhaps, extend the adventure in ways that fascinate them or create an adventure all their own. I've been reading to my granddaughter since she was a week old; she responds well to such invitations! This book reminds us of two books we love, "Harold and The Purple Crayon," and "Dog Loves Drawing." This is a worthy contribution and invitation to the world of imagination.

[Sarah Sammis]

Something to Do by David Lucas caught my attention last summer when my children were complaining of boredom. Little Bear in this book has the same problem and it's up to Big Bear to find something to do.

Big Bear takes Little Bear on a walk in the forest. Little Bear goes reluctantly. He doesn't start to have fun until he picks up a stick and starts to doodle in the dirt. Pretty soon both are drawing landscapes in the dirt.

The book highlights the importance and magic of the imagination. David Lucas's illustrations, especially the line drawings in the dirt bring to mind Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon books.

[Nicole]

You just can't do a "create the picture adventure as you go" picture book without evoking Harold and the Purple Crayon. Anything else comes across as a bad imitation. Which is not to say that this book was bad. In fact, I found the little aquare-eared bear quite endearing. And I loved the slow start. Nothing to do. No really, nothing to do. It was funny and anyone who has ever been bored can relate.

I'm just saying there will only ever be one Purple Crayon so don't even try. Lower the crayon and slowing back away.

[Bridget R. Wilson]

A young bear is bored. There's nothing to do. With his dad's help, he puts his imagination to good use and finds quite a lot to do. (They go visit the moon!)


What I thought: What a great book! It's all in the simplicity of both the text and illustrations. I liked the bears' use of imagination. This book will show kids how important imagination is. Reminds me of Emily Dickinson's poem about the prairie.


Story Time Themes: Imagination (pair with Nell's Elf and The Golden Egg Book); Bears

[Youth Services]

This book DOES evoke Harold and the Purple Crayon, and Not a Box. But at the same time, it's lovely colors and simple story are enjoyable, and elegantly done. Kids can related to the whole "make your own fun" idea, as they probably hear it often enough, and will enjoy how the little bear's day goes from boring to amazing by the book's end.

Lisle Library Call #: E LUC

[Rachel]

This was an overly simplistic book, but with cute illustrations. Baby Bear is bored and there is nothing to do, that is until his Papa Bear finds a stick and then they start using their imagination to create their own fun all day. Then Baby Bear is hungry so they go home to Mama Bear. Recommended for ages 2-6, 2 stars.

[Katie]

LOVE it! Adorable and imaginative.

A Caldecott contender?

[Beth]

Lovely illustrations!

[Sam Bloom]

Pretty much a retread of Antoinette Portis's "Not a..." books and "Harold and the Purple Crayon." Not much to recommend here.

[Denise]

This would be best shared one on one or with a small group of young children so you can discuss the illustrations.

[MissInformation]

Harold and the Purple Crayon with a big bear and a little bear.

[Susan]

The illustrations are charming. But if I compare it to other simple stories about imagination, (ala Not a Box which I really liked alot)Something to Do just doesn't do it for me.

[Danielle]

Good for an imagination or art storytime.

[Kristen]

This is cute. The illustrations are sweet. It's a fine book about imagination. There's just nothing very new or exciting here.

[Casandria]

Harold's crayon, simplified
Imagination

[Vicki]

This book fell flat with Pre-Schoolers, the idea of the story they didn't understand.

[Wendy Garland]

Very reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon.

[Katy]

Kind of a Harold and the Purple Crayon knockoff.