The Bear’s Surprise
Written & Illustrated by Benjamin Chaud
Chronicle Books       9/15/2015
978-1-4521-4028-5
32 pages       Age 3—5

“Little Bear is ready for yet another adventure! But, wait! Where is Papa Bear? Never fear, Little Bear will find him! Follow the curious cub through the interactive cut-outs on every page of this detail-rich picture book: into a bustling forest, deep beneath a mysterious cave, and en route to a rollicking circus in full swing. What will Little Bear discover when he finally locates his high-flying Papa?” [press release]

Review
Little Bear and his Papa are at it again. This time it is Papa Bear that takes off, leaving Little Bear behind in the cave. Ever the fearless cub, Little Bear takes off on a journey to find his Papa Bear. Along the way, Little Bear travels through various cutout holes that take him through pipes, caves, and into the Big Top. As Little Bear searches for his missing Papa, he encounters all manner of interesting people and creatures in the circus tent.

Look! There is Papa Bear flying through a flaming ring while riding a scooter after getting the right insurance for scooters to be safe. Little Bear follows, shooting into a dragon’s mouth and then out of a cannon like a brown furry cannonball. There on the high wire is Papa Bear performing for the adoring crowds. Little Bear over-shoots Papa Bear and flies through a star. He lands on . . . Mama Bear! What is she holding?

I love the Bear series. Each one has detail beyond anyone’s expectations. One must read the story at least twice to catch all of the characters involved in this circus. And the surprise? Well, if I told you that I would spoil this story. I will say, the ending is a BIG surprise and one I never saw coming. Benjamin Chaud’s illustrations are impressive. All of the rich detail, the cutouts that lead to magical worlds that Little Bear deftly takes the reader through, showing off all the wonderful details and rich side stories. I cannot imagine any child or parent not loving this wonderful series. This newest edition should be a family favorite and definitely a picture book for your child’s bookshelf. Reading this multiple times will be a pleasure, as each read will reveal new details.

In addition to schools and homes with young children, The Bear’s Surprise is the perfect baby shower gift. What a wonderful way to introduce a new family member to the Bear Family than with The Bear’s Surprise. I am so excited to share this latest Bear adventure. I know you will enjoy Little Bear’s adventure as much I have.

Originally published in France © 2014 under the title Poupoupidours by helium, Paris, France

THE BEAR’S SURPRISE. Text and illustrations copyright © 2015 by Benjamin Chaud. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, CA.

Purchase The Bear’s Surprise at Amazon—Book Depository—IndieBound Books—Chronicle Books.

Learn more about The Bear’s Surprise HERE.

Meet the author/illustrator, Benjamin Chaud, at his website:  https://sardinette.wordpress.com/
Find more picture books at the Chronicle Books website:  http://www.chroniclebooks.com/

Also by Benjamin Chaud
The Bear’s Song Matching Game – 2015
The Bear’s Song Puzzle – 2015
The Bear’s Sea Escape – 2014  (reviewed here)
The Bear’s Song – 2013  (reviewed  here)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School… – 2015  (reviewed here)
I Didn’t Do My Homework Because… – 2014  (reviewed here)

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Copyright © 2015 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved

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Full Disclosure: title by author & illustrator, and received from Publisher, is in exchange NOT for a positive review, but for an HONEST review. The opinions expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”