Bear Flies High (with audio cd)

Author: Michael Rosen & Adrian Reynolds

Overview

What child doesn’t imagine being able to fly? Well, Bear is no different. When he sees seagulls at the beach whirling and diving, he must learn how. Luckily, there are four children who know exactly how to make that happen: Take a trip to an amusement park and play on all the rides. Swoopy swoopy swoopitty swoop!

An exhilarating story that showcases Rosen’s signature lyrical style, Bear Flies High is another perfect read-aloud with a familiar and lovable character.

Editorial Review

In a fairy-tale-like beginning, four helpful children wander on a beach and meet up with a bear that yearns to fly like the birds he watches swooping in the sky. "If you want to fly, Mr. Bear, follow us," declares one of the little girls. The five set off on a jaunty journey—"Follow follity follow"—and spend the day frolicking at an amusement park, including a visit to a haunted house, where Mr. Bear's arms lovingly nestle and protect them, and a flying ride on a roller coaster. Reynolds's bold watercolor illustrations extend the carefree spirit of Rosen's rhythmic text. "I can fly in the sky like a bird up high./Swoopy swoop/Swoopy swoop/Swoopy swoopity swoop." By placing objects and characters farther apart here than those in this team's Bear's Day Out (Bloomsbury, 2007), Reynolds gives the spreads more breathing space and keeps the pacing zipping along. His use of color is excellent, and slanting lines guide the eye along, whether the children are leading the bear up a hill in the daylight or down a road at dusk. The fiery orange-red of the setting-sun sky in the last spread makes the skipping children and bear seem up close and looking as if they're flying right into readers' laps. Bear gets his wish in a way, thanks to four kind children.