When the Teddy Bears Came - Hardcover

PreSchool-K?Alice Bear, Ozzie Bear, Dudley Bear, and countless others begin arriving at Tom's house after the new baby is born. He helps find places for them all to sit and fixes them when they get a little bit squashed. He even gives the baby his own bear, Huggy. But when his new sibling and all of the toys end up on the couch with mom, Tom realizes that there is no room for him. After he voices his concern, his mother immediately invites him to sit on her knee; together, they take care of the bears while Dad takes a turn at caring for the infant. Stuffed animals, a new baby, and a loving family make for an engaging combination in this gentle story. The realistic, soft-hued watercolor and pencil-crayon illustrations capture the warmth of the text. The layout, which combines double-page, full-page, and rectangular, snapshotlike illustrations, is pleasing to the eye. The toddler's body language and expressions are particularly believable and appealing. Waddell's fans will find this a more subdued story than Farmer Duck or Owl Babies (both Candlewick, 1992), eliciting a quiet, knowing smile rather than a merry grin. Most children will be charmed by the potpourri of textured toys that surround Tom and his family on almost every page.?Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 2^-5. "When the new baby came to Tom's house, the Teddy bears started coming." One bear comes home in the crib with the baby, other bears are brought by family and friends, and even young Tom gives his own Huggy Bear to help watch over the baby. Soon the couch is filled by Mom and the baby and all of the bears, and there's no room left for Tom. With gentle wisdom, Mom tells Tom that it's Dad's turn to take care of the baby and that she needs Tom to sit on her knee and help her take care of the bears. "And that's what they did. When the new baby came to Tom's house, they all took turns taking care of the bears . . . and the baby." Done in watercolor and pencil crayon, Dale's illustrations are warm and fuzzy portraits of family life that softly reflect the scenes of Waddell's simple, soothing story. A lovely picture book that will comfort and reassure the youngest of new big brothers and sisters. Annie Ayres