This book is so bright and colorful! It's jam packed with great scenes. Each page has so much more to look at and discuss than just what the text is describing. ( )

Tags: Picture Book, Bears, Bike

Summary: This picture book story is about a young boy who finds pleasure in following a bear, a bear on a bike wherever it goes. During the story the boy followed the bear on a bike to the forest, seaside area, super market, a really neat castle all before the bear leaves and travels to far outer space.

Personal Reaction: I enjoy this book and react due to this being my son's very first book he actually really understood and enjoy having read to him over and over. His love for animals, mikes, and out space really relate to him by this book and to me from what the bear on a bike does. When I see, hear, or read this book, my son comes to mind and in my thoughts. The pictures really capture a young childs mind and make them remember not only this book, but all the places a person really goes to throughout their life, with the exception of out space unless the really do go.

Classroom Extensions: This story teaches kids about thinking about singing, how to rhyme, small details of objects, various images from the colors being bright and thoughtful. Shows kids that anything is possible and to use their creative powers and not just think real world and what really can happen, but what can happen when you dream. ( )

I enjoyed the obvious rhyme scheme of this story. The repeated lines “Where are you going bear, please wait for me” signified the strong relationship between the boy and the bear. I gathered that the bear represented a strong personality and someone who loves to explore. The illustrations and the repeated line above made me, as the reader, feel that the boy isn’t as adventurous but likes to tag along with his bear friend. This can be related in friendships because sometimes children with opposite personalities connect and build strong relationships.
The images were culturally appropriate. For example, when the bear and boy traveled to the river, castle, seaside and market, other animals were represented, as were different ethnicities in people. The buyers and sellers at the market were all different races and dressed differently. I liked this small detail because it made the setting realistic and it was humorous to me that the author gave this bear such humanistic qualities.
I liked that the author chose a bear and not another child for the African American boy to play with. It made the story more entertaining, unique, and can interest readers who love animals. I think the big idea was that there is no adventure too big or too small and it doesn’t matter the company. This is described in the story because the bear and boy traveled from somewhere remote like a river, to somewhere extravagant like a castle and then outer space. I also enjoyed that the reader can think of the bear as the boys imaginary friend. I did not realize this until the end of the book, which made me think more into the author’s word choice and made me investigate, which was enjoyable. ( )

This is one of my all time favorite kids books. It is simply perfect. I love everything from the gorgeous, colorful illustrations to the lovely rhymes. All three of my children have loved this book, and I'm going to be sad when the youngest is too old for it. I give this book constantly as a gift for baby showers or for 1st birthday parties. I cannot recommend it highly enough. ( )

This book would be good for beginning first graders. The book rhymes, so I would teach a rhyming lesson with this book.