This authentic literature is a great addition to this ESL series. This entire series is wonderful. With new migrant students entering my district everyday, I have a population of students with diverse needs. This series includes lessons in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking as well as relates all to real life experiences and other content areas. As well, real, authentic literature is included in almost each new thematic unit.

I loved this book as a child and now my young children love it too. The illustrations are fantastic... the kind of illustrations that remained implanted in the back of my mind for 30 years: it was a joy to see them again and I was surprised at how clearly I had remembered them. Your kids are going to love this book.

The story is simple. The Big Brown Bear is sent off to get supper and can not resist the honey bee hive his wife warned him against. Apparently this is a recurrent problem for Mr. Bear. The results are predictible and Mr. Bear returns home with supper (a large fish) and a very swollen (stung) nose. Mrs. Bear immediately realizes what has happend, applies a huge bandage and serves up the fish. None the less, Mr. Bear wishes he had some honey for dessert.

I recommend this book for all parents who have children who are plump, fat, or heavier than average. It is a faerie tale/bedtime story that helps promote self-esteem in kids who are having the esteem constantly knocked out of them in today's thin-obsessed world.

There's also a terrific resource guide at the back for clothing and other items and groups for fat children.

The message of this story is one that EVERYONE should hear. I think it would also be helpful for Big, Beautiful Women - even if they don't have any kids - to help with their own self-esteem.

It's truly a charming book!

i think that this is a very funny book

I read this book to my 3 year old son as we are hoping that he will soon have a sibling!He now asks for it every night and is anticipating with excitement the thought of becoming a "big panda".The book is very easy for younger childern to understand and is beautifully accompanied by some sensitive illustrations.

This is the reader that I had in the first grade about 14 years ago. I love this book. I still remember all of the wonderful stories that are in it. I wish I still had a copy for my daughter! Great great book!

A Birthday Surprise is a great book for the birthday girl or boy! We bought this book for our daughter's first birthday and she enjoys flipping through the pages while watching Bear on tv or before bedtime.

Not only does A Birthday Surprise have beautiful brightly colored pages but it also comes with some bitrhday fun stickers. The story follows a birthday party in the Big Blue House from the begining to the end and shows kids all the fun that the birthday boy or girl has and all the fun everyone else has too.

Nice to see a child's book about animals that is also reasonably accurate.

This is a great read! Ray A. Young Bear's book is not as difficult to penetrate as some of Gerald Vizenor's stuff, but is just as smart. It isn't quite the way Louise Erdrich weaves her stories together, but his use of language and his ability to tell a story is just as good. He's poetic, magical, honest, and can paint pictures with words you won't forget.

What is it about? Well, it's about life. It is about the lives of a group of people from the heartland of America.

If you like Native American literature, get it. If you like poetry, get it. If you enjoy staying up and night and laughing with the characters in the books you read, and feeling their pain, I think you won't be disappointed.

This children's book is well worth having (for adults, too)--I recently bought a second copy I found on sale at a local gift store, and would be glad for several more! It reminds me just a little of Wind in the Willows, with the anthropomorphic animals, but it's very much its own book. A rare, timeless voice--you wouldn't necessarily guess it was written within the last 50 years--and an uplifting, "kinder, gentler" vibe. You come away from this book with a good feeling. The author is also a gifted illustrator, and the book contains many of his drawings.