- Title: Little Bear
- Author: Else Holmelund Minarik
- Illustrations: Maurice Sendak
Little Bear front cover
- Year Published: 1957 (Harper & Row, Publishers)
- Year Purchased: 1957, presumably (I think it was purchased for my mom)
- Source: My sweet Momma
- About: Little Bear-a collection of four stories revolving around the sweet title character-was one of the first books I read for myself. I was barely three years old, and entirely mesmerized by Sendak’s illustrations. I especially loved his hat in What Will Little Bear Wear? The writing by Minarik is, of course, simplistic to the extreme (exactly what you would expect from something with An I CAN READ Book tag) but that is beside the point: Sendak is the reason I loved Little Bear and his tame adventures (real and imagined) and childish dilemmas. He is the reason the stories are classics. From the moment I opened the book for the first time-before I could read-I was a Sendak fan, lifelong and passionate.
- Motivation: I read everything I could get my thin, little hands on. This book, it seems, was always there.
- Times Read: Dozens or hundreds, I have no idea.
- Random Excerpt/Page 18:
Little Bear wearing my favourite hat
- Happiness Scale: 10++++, with a side of warm fuzzies.
Little Bear and Mother Bear
*This is dedicated to the memory and brilliant mind of Maurice Sendak, who died today (8 May 2012).
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 
Oh my Lord. I have to watch the Nickelodeon show of this ALL THE TIME with my nephew. I should really get the books, I’m sure they’re much better.
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The books are very sweet and innocent, with imaginative Sendak illustrations and highly simplistic but engaging writing. They are ideal for little ones just learning to read. I carried this one with me everywhere, long before I learned to read. Once I had picked up that skill (around my third birthday) I read it obsessively. I thought it was just wonderful!
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Gosh, they just don’t make cover art/illustrations like they used to, or maybe I just prefer the “undigital” look … the book is just fabulous! Love it. 🙂
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It IS a gorgeously illustrated book and holds so many memories for me! I also love an old school “undigital” look.
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When I had my bookstore, my favorite cover art was on the vintage science fiction paperbacks. They had the strangest and coolest cover art! 😀
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Oh, how sweet is that! Book covers qualify as art, in my opinion. At least vintage ones. What kind of bookstore did you own?
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I sold used and rare books. It was a fun little shop. I obtained a nice little collection for myself too! 🙂
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Oh, that is wonderful! I’m jealous. 🙂
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I sold used and rare books. It was a fun little shop. I obtained a nice little collection for myself too! 🙂
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one of my son’s favorite books – the revered ones that he carts with him everywhere in his backpack – is his Little Bear collected stories book.
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I still have my copy, which was originally my mom’s. I am keeping it for any future kidlet I have. Your son has excellent taste!
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Sendak is great. Wild Things was formative. In The Night Kitchen, I still read every so often.
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Agreed on all counts. Little Bear was my Sendak gateway; it only got better from there.
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Aww.. memories… Thanks for the reminder. Cheers!
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You are welcome, it was my pleasure!
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