Humphrey's Bear - Softcover

Jan Wahl is the author of more than one hundred books for children. He lives in Toledo, Ohio.

William Joyce is the creator of many bestselling and award-winning picture books, including Dinosaur Bob, Santa Calls, and Rolie Polie Olie. Humphrey's Bear was one of the very first books he illustrated. He lives with his wife and two children in Shreveport, Louisianna.

PreSchool-Grade 3 Author and illustrator credit the influence of animated films of 30 years ago and more on their work, and it's easy to imagine a bouncy cartoon soundtrack accompanying this simple adventure tale. Father grumbles, ``Isn't Humphrey too old to sleep with a toy bear?'' He's forgotten his own childhood joy in dreamtime sailing with that very same bear. The dreaming child sets off with his toy. They are caught by a typhoon and wash up on an island. The blue coloring, the details of palm trees, ocean, and the island setting unmistakably recall Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. Humphrey's story, like that classic, begins with parental disapproval, only to end in reconciliation. Humphrey is too passive to interest children the way feisty Max does; nor is Humphrey's bear, grown overnight many times larger than the boy, entirely sympathetic. There is something unsettling that the last page fade-out of dad, bear, and boy cuddling together can't put to rest. The jacket art shows the two adventurers as a parent would see them looking down. Boy and bear are nestled in bed, cozy and vulnerable. It's a wonderful illustration. Gentle story or lackluster homage? This team is too good and the book too carefully made to disregard, but probably just as many children will be indifferent to it as are passionately attached. Anna Biagioni Hart, Sher wood Public Library, Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.