Description
A bear’s curious discovery leads to crafty inventions in this storytime romp filled with whimsical wordplay and themes of friendship, imagination, and STEAM.
★ “Doherty’s joyous, inventive, action-packed language begs to be shouted out loud….A delightful, rollicking, joyous romp.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
An inquisitive bear ventures into People Town, where he makes quite the curious discovery. What is this? A springy thing—a bouncy thing—a sit-on-it, jump-on-it thing! It’s a bit too cumbersome to bring back to the woods, however, so Bear runs home to tell his friends. But none of his friends are willing to help, so Bear invents a “Rolly-Rumpity” to wheel home the “Thingity-Jig.” Through trial and error—and lots of shooing away from sleepy friends—Bear finally wheels the “Thingity-Jig” home to the woods, where he graciously shares his find.
Reading specialist and former educator Kathy Doherty blends upcycling and STEAM with a delightful story and wordplay in this charismatic picture book that’s ideal for read alouds. Illustrator Kristyna Litten brings the charming world to life with detailed, imaginative art and characters.
Reviews
★ “Doherty’s joyous, inventive, action-packed language begs to be shouted out loud. The moonlit night sparkles in town and city as Litten’s fanciful illustrations fill in the details of the tale and showcase Bear’s inventiveness. Little readers might want to create their own Thingity-Jigs. A delightful, rollicking, joyous romp.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
★ “[An] intricately illustrated picture book that rejoices in creative play—and in imaginative takes on ordinary objects.” —Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Making the most of Bear’s wacky, ingenious contraptions, the appealing artwork rewards curious viewers with visual details that reappear in different contexts as the story unfolds. The well-constructed text rolls along in a satisfying way, enhanced by the devices’ inventive names, which are uniquely fitting and great fun to read aloud. A dynamic, enjoyable picture book.” —Booklist
“With text as energetic and playful as Bear himself, the story builds a delightful anticipation for each new Rube Goldberg-ian invention. Atmospheric illustrations are washed in softly textured nighttime blues and are chock-a-block full of endearing detail…. With language that trips off the tongue and pictures filled with charming ingenuity, this is a read-aloud that will endure.” —School Library Connection
“Illuminating nightscapes, enveloped in rich purple shadows that contrast beautifully with the shining yellow light from windows. As the sun rises, the scenes masterfully transition to the warm orange morning…. Doherty’s text is at its most playful, with all manner of funny words, when Bear constructs his inventions. Her rhyming text on those pages is bouncy and fun…. A celebration of inventiveness, in both contraption and language, this book is a lovely addition to larger collections.” —School Library Journal
More Details
F&P: M, Gr 2, Genre F
Lexile: AD500L
Themes: Ingenuity, Friendship, Patience, Imagination, Play
BISAC 1: JUV039060 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Friendship
BISAC 2: JUV051000 JUVENILE FICTION / Imagination & Play
BISAC 3: JUV002030 JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Bears
