BIG BROWN BEAR'S UP AND DOWN DAY

Harcourt, 2003. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. As New/New. David McPhail color illustrations. CONDITION: UNREAD, but not quite perfect, 2003 Harcourt hardcover (pictorial boards) & dust jacket (in mylar cover), first edition, first printing. PROBLEM: Remainder mark bottom edges at spine. Clean & very tight. Adorable and fun color illustrations by the Author. CONTENT: Bear is big, and bear is brown, and bear lives all alone. And then one day, Bear discovers he has a small, gray problem. RAT! When Big Brown Bear wakes up and sees his slipper moving across the floor, it's not magic, it's a mouse. Or rather a rat, as Rat corrects Bear. He wants to use Bear's slipper as a bed, but Bear gets the shoe back--for the moment. So begins a tug-of-war between the big brown bear and the small gray rat, vying for ownership of the shoe. A growing affection between the two (and a box of old stuff, including a single slipper) leads to a happy ending. Big Brown Bear benefits from the oversize format here, which features ink-and-watercolor pictures of the duo in action set against expanses of white. Young children will respond to the simple theme of friendship found. The generous use of white space and varied page layouts with creative text placement add to the inviting feel of the book. Bear, in his nightshirt and nightcap, and surrounded by old-fashioned, wooden furniture, is the picture of coziness and security. The well-written text and memorable art make finding room on your shelves for one more story of friendship discovered worthwhile. Ages 3 - 7.