The Bears We Know. Brenda Silsbe. Illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen. Toronto, ON: Annick Press, 2009. 32 pp., pbk. & hc., $7.95 (pbk.), $19.95 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-55451-166-2. ISBN 978-1-55451-167-9. Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 4-7. Review by Reesa Cohen. *** /4

Don't be fooled by the title and the charming picture of the three bears on the cover of this colourful picture book. These are not the ones from an old folktale that very young readers might be familiar with. There is no Goldilocks, no porridge ...but also no disappointment! These are definitely not the bears that we know.

     The narrator seems to be a neighbor of these energetic and rowdy bears, but admits that no one has ever really seen them. That doesn't stop the gossip about the "goings on in the house down the road."

They sleep late every day. And nobody ever wakes them up or tells them they are sleeping late.

Because, you know, you never wake up or talk back to bears.

     We get a firsthand view of the hijinks and daily events of the playful neighbors who live in a messy house, but like it that way; who jump on furniture; eat a varied diet of chips, vegetable milkshakes, omelets and buttered toast. They also sing happy songs, watch TV, don't go to school. Why, they even visit the shack beside their house for a sauna.

      Humourously depicted in lively watercolors, these bears just have so much fun- and so will the reader.

Recommended.

Reesa Cohen is a retired Instructor of Children's Literature and Information Literacy at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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