About the Author:
Ann Bonwill grew up in America. Her mother worked as a children's librarian so Ann was always surrounded by books and she loved to read and write stories throughout her childhood. After gaining a psychology degree and a master's degree in social work, Ann worked in a variety of social care
positions in schools and hospitals and taught at a Montessori school. Ann currently lives in Germany with her husband and young son. Ann is the author of Pocket's Christmas Wish, also published by OUP. Layn Marlow grew up in Essex. After studying history of art at Reading University, Layn began her
career working in libraries. She lived in Belgium for several years but it was on her return to the UK that she enrolled as a mature student at Southampton University and received a first class degree in illustration. Layn now lives in Hampshire with her husband, two children, a hamster, and a
goldfish. For relaxation she loves listening to the radio, knitting, and karate!
Review:
Little blue Bug and little brown Bear become unlikely friends. Bear wants to take a nap, but Bug, with big eyes and a perpetual smile, wants to play, and buzzes all around Bear's head. (Bug's dialogue often snakes across the page in imitation of his flight pattern.) Bear lumbers off toward her cave and Bug gets distracted by some flowers. After counting to 10, he gives chase anew; maybe now Bear's ready to play! But no; frustrated and exhausted, Bear tells Bug to Buzz off! Go jump in the lake! and goes into her cave. But she tosses and turns and can't fall asleep. Maybe she should have been nicer to Bug? Bear finds Bug in the lake (that she told him to jump into!); he has been trying to be a water bug, and now he wants a nap. Just what Bear wants to hear; after a heartfelt apology, the two new friends share a snooze. Marlow's illustrations in gouache, pencil, watercolor and crayon have a soft focus, amplified by their being laid on a brown-cardstock background (like the inside of a cereal box). In vignettes and full- and double-page spreads, their gentle humor nicely enhances and advances Bonwill's deftly written tale. --Kirkus
PreS-Gr 1 This sweet tale of friendship and compromise offers nothing new, but is enjoyable nonetheless. Bug was being annoying, the text begins. He just wants to play, but Bear is tired and wants him to go away. She meets a series of animals who inspire different ways to try to get away from him, but Bug thinks it s all a game. Finally, Bear tells him to jump into the lake and goes to bed. Feeling guilty, she discovers that he has done just that. She rescues him, apologizes, and offers to play, but Bug is now tired, so they take a nap together. The text reads smoothly, and while it is not short enough for toddlers, children will sympathize with the characters. The mixed-media illustrations are expressive and appealing. Bear is simply drawn, with small eyes and eyebrows that convey her annoyance, sorrow, and worry. Bug is less realistic, with a blobby blue body, round pop eyes, and long, curly antennae, which also show emotions effectively. The plants and flowers have an almost Art Deco look, and the mostly earth tones are soothing. Marlow uses a combination of spot art, full-bleed spreads, and single pages to convey motion and propel the action. Friendship is always a popular topic, and the final solution and acknowledgment that both characters were wrong is refreshing. A pleasant addition to most library collections. --School Library Journal, May, 2011
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