Overview

Everything in Owen's world is just peachy-till his parents bring home a bear named Gary-without even asking! Gary changes everything- he takes up way too much space and makes a mess of all of Owen's toys. Having Gary around is just so frustrating . . . could there be anything good about having a bear in the family? Kids dealing with change in the household relate to Owen's plight, even if they've never has a family member quite as unusual as Gary. Refreshing humor, expressive illustrations and a very unique friendship make this picture-book debut by an exciting new talent perfect for the whole family to share.

Full Product Details

9780399252570

Table of Contents

Reviews

A displacement story with a twist. . . . Portraying vulnerability without making one's characters look like whiners or wusses is no easy task, but Kornell succeeds. . . . He sets a sweetly plaintive mood that makes even the expected happy ending quietly gratifying. --Publishers Weekly

Inventive humor in both the text and the illustrations. . . . Its sweet message . . . will resonate with plenty of youngsters. . . . This charming offering can be enjoyed even by those whose families are staying just the way they are. -- School Library Journal Kornell brings a wry, at times epigrammatic style to Owen's narration, and he's clearly inviting his audience to share in the joke of the ursine twist on the usual family-addition story. Mixed-media art has the soft familiarity of watercolors with a crisp and comedic immediacy conferred by a cartoonish vigor. . . . Gary in particular is a big, appealingly goofy presence. . . . Kids will argue that they'd rather have a bear than a baby sib anytime, but they'll gigglingly take the point. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Gentle, wordless pages explore their developing friendship and invite readers to provide the narration. . . . A sweet and refreshing spin on the old new-sibling plot. -- Kirkus Reviews A displacement story with a twist. . . . Portraying vulnerability without making one's characters look like whiners or wusses is no easy task, but Kornell succeeds. . . . He sets a sweetly plaintive mood that makes even the expected happy ending quietly gratifying. -- Publishers Weekly

-Inventive humor in both the text and the illustrations. . . . Its sweet message . . . will resonate with plenty of youngsters. . . . This charming offering can be enjoyed even by those whose families are staying just the way they are.- -- School Library Journal -Kornell brings a wry, at times epigrammatic style to Owen's narration, and he's clearly inviting his audience to share in the joke of the ursine twist on the usual family-addition story. Mixed-media art has the soft familiarity of watercolors with a crisp and comedic immediacy conferred by a cartoonish vigor. . . . Gary in particular is a big, appealingly goofy presence. . . . Kids will argue that they'd rather have a bear than a baby sib anytime, but they'll gigglingly take the point.- -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books -Gentle, wordless pages explore their developing friendship and invite readers to provide the narration. . . . A sweet and refreshing spin on the old new-sibling plot.- -- Kirkus Reviews -A displacement story with a twist. . . . Portraying vulnerability without making one's characters look like whiners or wusses is no easy task, but Kornell succeeds. . . . He sets a sweetly plaintive mood that makes even the expected happy ending quietly gratifying.- -- Publishers Weekly

Inventive humor in both the text and the illustrations. . . . Its sweet message . . . will resonate with plenty of youngsters. . . . This charming offering can be enjoyed even by those whose families are staying just the way they are. -- <b>School Library Journal</b> Kornell brings a wry, at times epigrammatic style to Owen's narration, and he's clearly inviting his audience to share in the joke of the ursine twist on the usual family-addition story. Mixed-media art has the soft familiarity of watercolors with a crisp and comedic immediacy conferred by a cartoonish vigor. . . . Gary in particular is a big, appealingly goofy presence. . . . Kids will argue that they'd rather have a bear than a baby sib anytime, but they'll gigglingly take the point. -- <b>The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books</b> Gentle, wordless pages explore their developing friendship and invite readers to provide the narration. . . . A sweet and refreshing spin on the old new-sibling plot. -- <b>Kirkus Reviews</b> A displacement story with a twist. . . . Portraying vulnerability without making one's characters look like whiners or wusses is no easy task, but Kornell succeeds. . . . He sets a sweetly plaintive mood that makes even the expected happy ending quietly gratifying. -- <b>Publishers Weekly</b>

Author Information

Max Kornell graduated from Rhode Island School of Design. His regular comic for LA Weekly, -Los Angelopolis, - took second place at the 2008 AAN (Association of Alternative Newsweeklies) Awards. He teaches art at Crossroads and the Brentwood Art Center, and lives in Los Angeles, California.

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