Synopsis
A retelling of a German folksong about a bear unable to water his flowers because every attempt to repair the hole in his bucket only leads to further problems.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1998-04-01 |
| Size | | Height: | 11.0 in | | Width: | 8.8 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 13.6 oz |
Publisher's Note
The classic children's folk song that ponders how to fix the hole at the bottom of a bucket comes to life in warm, vibrant colors and lifelike images of endearing forest creatures. Bear, after discovering that the flowers outside his den are drooping, takes his bucket and heads for the lake--but his bucket has a hole in the bottom. How Bear and his friend Hedgehog try to repair the bucket will entertain and delight new readers. Full color.
Industry Reviews
This winsome if slight adaptation of a German folk song opens as Bear discovers that the flowers in front of his cave are wilting fast. He sets out to water them but his bucket has a hole, and when Hedgehog offers to help him fix it, the results are predictable. Observant readers will notice that a storm is brewing, and, indeed, it is a much-needed rainfall that drenches the flowers and solves the hole-in-the-bucket dilemma at least temporarily. An appealing, decidedly inquisitive cast of woodland animals and insects peeks out from the Schuberts' (Amazing Animals) softly shaded double-page illustrations, and the bumbling Bear and Hedgehog appear particularly endearing. At the end of the story, the "revived" flowers look much the same as they do at the beginning an inconsistency that may trouble some readers, but one that is eclipsed by the cheery images and tone. Ages 2-6. (Apr.)
Lopate
PreS-K Bear's flowers are droopy and need some water but his bucket has a hole in it. Hedgehog suggests using some straw as a plug but it's too tough to break into pieces. His scissors are too dull and it takes some time to find a good sharpening stone. Meanwhile, a storm is building. As Bear and his woodland friends enjoy the ensuing wet afternoon in his "hole," the flowers benefit from the rain. Bear then presents a lovely bouquet to Hedgehog who needs a bucket to put them in. This retelling of a traditional folksong suffers just a bit from obsolescence young listeners may be perplexed about straw in buckets and stone-sharpened scissors. However, Bear is an endearing fellow and children will delight in his challenges and good-natured acquiescence to fate. From his pawprints on the endpapers through the gradual accumulation of a passel of charming forest creatures, the bucolic watercolors flow over double-page spreads in soft muted browns and greens. The brief text reads well, though not suspensefully, aloud. A final conundrum, however: the watered flowers appear to be as droopy as they did at the start. An additional purchase best enjoyed one-on-one for full appreciation of the winsome details. Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ
Lopate
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