Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Fourteen Bears: Summer and winter by Evelyn Scott, illustrated by Virginia Parsons


After hearing people mention this frequently as an old favorite on various blogs and in the library, I finally found a copy to see what all the fuss was about.

On the surface, it's a very repetitive, simple story. Fourteen bears, two parents and twelve children, live in various tree houses and go through seasonal activities. The illustrations are bright and slightly cartoonish.

However, the appeal to children - and adults - is also easy to see. The backgrounds and details, especially the woodland creatures and plants, are beautifully drawn. The story is simple but not overly sweet or kidsy and the repetition is comforting. The story is classic in its simplicity and appeal and deserves to be remembered and reprinted.

Verdict: I can see a market for this if it was ever brought back into print.

ISBN: 978-0375832796; This edition published April 2005 by Golden Books (out of print); Borrowed from the library

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