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Bears on Chairs
Bears on Chairs
Can five bears share four chairs? The infectious rhymes and easy charm of this winsome read-aloud will make young listeners sit up and take notice.
Four happy bears
on four small chairs.
Four chairs. Four adorable bears. All is well until Big Brown Bear shows up — what a stare! — and wants a seat. Can these clever bears put their heads together (among other things) and make space for one more? With endearing, expressive illustrations and a sustained rhyme in every line, here is a cozy tale that makes it clear there is room for all.
Four happy bears
on four small chairs.
Four chairs. Four adorable bears. All is well until Big Brown Bear shows up — what a stare! — and wants a seat. Can these clever bears put their heads together (among other things) and make space for one more? With endearing, expressive illustrations and a sustained rhyme in every line, here is a cozy tale that makes it clear there is room for all.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2009
9 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Parenteau
31 books49 followersThis is my second time around as a children's book writer. When my own 3 children were young, I had 8 books published. My children grew up and for a time, I wrote women's fiction. Now I have 6 grandchildren, all girls. I'm writing for children again and loving it!
One of my granddaughter's play with stuffed animals in a bookstore children's area led me to write Bears on Chairs, a picture book published by Candlewick Press. The bears have made friends around the world and are especially popular in translation in Japan where David Walker's adorable illustrations have captivated readers.
Bears on Chairs was followed by Bears in Beds and in 2014 by Bears and a Bath. Illustrator David Walker is currently preparing more adorable bear pictures for a fourth book, Bears and a Birthday.
While I hope to keep writing about these whimsical sweet-natured bears, I'm excited about a new project for older children. My oldest granddaughter when three participated in Hinamatsuri, a festival of dolls in Japan. Online research of the festival led me to the 1926 Friendship Doll Project when American children sent more than 12,000 dolls to children in Japan. I wanted to write about that beautiful hope for friendship between children in two countries. My middle-grade novel, Ship of Dolls, the first in a planned series will be published by Candlewick Press in fall of 2014.
One of my granddaughter's play with stuffed animals in a bookstore children's area led me to write Bears on Chairs, a picture book published by Candlewick Press. The bears have made friends around the world and are especially popular in translation in Japan where David Walker's adorable illustrations have captivated readers.
Bears on Chairs was followed by Bears in Beds and in 2014 by Bears and a Bath. Illustrator David Walker is currently preparing more adorable bear pictures for a fourth book, Bears and a Birthday.
While I hope to keep writing about these whimsical sweet-natured bears, I'm excited about a new project for older children. My oldest granddaughter when three participated in Hinamatsuri, a festival of dolls in Japan. Online research of the festival led me to the 1926 Friendship Doll Project when American children sent more than 12,000 dolls to children in Japan. I wanted to write about that beautiful hope for friendship between children in two countries. My middle-grade novel, Ship of Dolls, the first in a planned series will be published by Candlewick Press in fall of 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
April 15, 2014
Problem solving, the merits of sharing, and extremely cute bears! I like very much ;-)
May 19, 2020
A sweet little bit of fluff about five cute bears cooperating and sharing four little chairs.
January 2, 2014
Bears on Chairs! I love this book. It's not the same thing each page, so it mixes it up for the parent! It is a counting and color book if you make it into one. Most of all though I love the message it sends. 4 Happy Bears on 4 small chairs. Then comes big brown bear with no chair. It teaches kids about sharing, working together, problem solving and not leaving others out. Going over and trying to make another kid happy and including them in with everyone else. No matter if they are different from you or not. I really like the message this book sends. Also it is funny to watch Blue bear. He's all over the place!
May 3, 2016
Four little bears fit nicely on four little chairs. But what will happen when Big Brown Bear comes along and wants to sit too?
This was another cute and fun Bears book, this time about sharing and compromise. It's a perfect length and has a lot of color and personality. The Boy (2.75) especially likes little chairs these days, so it's obviously a hit with him.
This was another cute and fun Bears book, this time about sharing and compromise. It's a perfect length and has a lot of color and personality. The Boy (2.75) especially likes little chairs these days, so it's obviously a hit with him.
August 25, 2014
What a great little book! Easy to overlook, it's a very sweet and easy to understand illustration of how sharing and cooperation can make everyone happier.
May 31, 2020
I can imagine this one being fun.. fun for making predictions, practicing problem solving, talking about math/ fractions to explain how this worked out in the end ??
Also the bears are cute which always helps. The framing with the big bear stare was graphically/ storytelling-y well done, too. Nice move!
I don’t know why but rhyming writing needs to hit the tempo for me or it bothers me. That was my one critique but I’m probably a snot that’s not a rule or anything.
Anyways I’d rec this one!
Also the bears are cute which always helps. The framing with the big bear stare was graphically/ storytelling-y well done, too. Nice move!
I don’t know why but rhyming writing needs to hit the tempo for me or it bothers me. That was my one critique but I’m probably a snot that’s not a rule or anything.
Anyways I’d rec this one!
October 10, 2020
How to solve the problem of seating five bears on four chairs? A lovely problem solving story about caring and sharing. It will be a useful picture book to demonstrate kindness as well as beginning counting.
August 27, 2019
Adorably cuddly bears try to make room for their friend, big bear, even though there are only four chairs. Lots of rhyming in the sentence or so on each page, and very floppy, adorable bears.
September 18, 2012
I really like this book because it teaches the concept of sharing and taking initiative. While reading this book I thought of how children can easily be influenced by the crowd and may not want to immediately help or share with others. However where the action of sharing and helping those that may be different or alone you are bound to have an individual stand out.
A learning experience I would do with this book would be to introduce the idea of sharing and helping others. As part of the egocentric child it is crucial to teach the concept or kind behaviorism that is essentially needed in their life.
A learning experience I would do with this book would be to introduce the idea of sharing and helping others. As part of the egocentric child it is crucial to teach the concept or kind behaviorism that is essentially needed in their life.
June 4, 2010
Calico Bear, Fuzzy Bear, Yellow Bear, and Floppy Bear each have a chair to themselves. They are perfectly content with their chairs until Big Brown Bear comes along. There's no chair for such a BIG bear. The bears work together to find room for Big Brown Bear.
What I Thought: Where was this book when I did teddy bear story time? It's perfect for the preschool crowd. The illustrations are cute. There's no other word for them. They are soft and pastel-colored. I like that this book teaches a lesson about teamwork and sharing.
Story Time Themes: teddy bears, friendship, sharing
What I Thought: Where was this book when I did teddy bear story time? It's perfect for the preschool crowd. The illustrations are cute. There's no other word for them. They are soft and pastel-colored. I like that this book teaches a lesson about teamwork and sharing.
Story Time Themes: teddy bears, friendship, sharing
August 3, 2011
LOVE!!!! From the pictures drawn, the patel colors used and the rhythm of the rhyme I am completely in love with this book and have a new favorite. This little board book is entertaining, but also so much more. Provlem solving and sharing is introduced in a way that toddlers may grasp and I will gladly read this one over and again.
Bears, chairs, there, share, stare, spare, pair and fair!
*Thanks to Candlewick Press for providing a copy for review.*
Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
Bears, chairs, there, share, stare, spare, pair and fair!
*Thanks to Candlewick Press for providing a copy for review.*
Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
August 3, 2015
I actually enjoyed this book. The pastel colors gave the book a more antique feel to me. I liked the style of the illustrations. The rhyme throughout the book was really well done - the author rhymed "chair" throughout the entire book. I enjoyed seeing if these bears were going to be able to figure out how to get all 5 of them on the 4 chairs. My daughter actually really enjoyed the book. Even when it was over, she loved pointing at everything on the cover of the book.
If I ran across this book at the book sale, I would definitely pick it up.
If I ran across this book at the book sale, I would definitely pick it up.
September 29, 2011
A terrific rhyming book about problem solving and sharing that even the very young can enjoy. Four sweet pastel-colored bears each have their own chair to sit on. "Four happy bears on four small chairs. Not a bear has to share." But what happens when Big Brown Bear looks for a chair? Can five bears share four chairs? I loved the rhyme and the rhythm, and the bears were super-cute as they put their fuzzy heads together to come up with a solution to their problem.
February 1, 2013
A very sweet story about four bears each on their own chair. When a big bear comes along, they all wonder if there is enough room for one more bear on four chairs. A story about sharing and problem solving. The story is written in simple rhyme. What I love most about this book are the persona of the bears depicted by the lovely art of David Walker. The bears have such sweet and tender expressions. I give this a 4.5 stars.
May 30, 2016
There are 4 bears and 4 chairs until Big Brown Bear comes along. With 5 bears and only 4 chairs, the Bears must figure out how to make room for Big Brown Bear.
This is a great book about sharing. The way the bears try different ways of arranging the chairs to make sure everyone is included is brilliant. I love children's books that teach a lesson and sharing is a very important lesson.
The illustrations were incredibly cute.
V @ 6 months.
This is a great book about sharing. The way the bears try different ways of arranging the chairs to make sure everyone is included is brilliant. I love children's books that teach a lesson and sharing is a very important lesson.
The illustrations were incredibly cute.
V @ 6 months.
May 21, 2010
Four bears on four chairs--all are happy, no one shares! But what happens when a fifth, BIG bear shows up? Readers will puzzle with the bears as they try to find a fair solution that makes everyone happy. Soft colors, teddy-bear bodies, and childlike proportions make this a gentle lesson about kindness and sharing.
March 23, 2012
An adorable rhyming board book about four small bears who sit in chairs and are happy with them until a fifth bear comes along. They must problem-solve to figure out how to fit all five of them in chairs. I read this aloud to my 8 month old and he loved it! Recommended for ages 8 months - 3 years, 4 stars.
October 5, 2009
Fun story of five bears figuring out how to share four chairs. Cute problem solving, I can easily see little ones offering solutions to the bears and laughing along with them as they solve their dilemma.
October 5, 2009
A lesson about sharing when one big bear comes along and isn't able to fit on any of the small bear's chairs. Rhyming text. Uber-adorable guachy-pastelly illustrations. Use for Story Time with small teddy bears (or kids) and one big bear?
March 3, 2011
I really like this book about sharing and caring! It has a nice rhyming text and soft illustrations.
Early Literacy Skills:
Narrative Skills
Phonological Awareness
Print Motivation
Early Literacy Skills:
Narrative Skills
Phonological Awareness
Print Motivation
April 9, 2011
Such a cute story about bears finding chairs to sit in. One for each bear. But when Big Brown Bear comes along, there isn't a chair for him! Can the other bears help find a chair for Big Brown Bear? Very child friendly, colorful illustrations.
July 21, 2012
Four chairs. Four adorable bears. All is well until Big Brown Bear shows up -- what a stare -- and wants a seat. Can these clever bears put their heads together (among other things) and make space for one more?
August 22, 2012
All's fair when four bears share four chairs, but things get complicated when a fifth bear wants a chair. The friends find a solution in this engaging rhyming text. I feel the illustrations could have been brighter for a better group readaloud experience.
December 4, 2012
This book was recommended to me by a friend. It has really cute illustrations and a wonderful story, teaching sharing and cooperation, without being preachy. Rhythms and rhymes flow well and my daughters (7, 5 and 2) all enjoyed it.
December 30, 2013
This is a great story about friendship and sharing that is written for an ECE audience. There are simple phrases on each page, all written in rhyming meter. The bears are really cute, and the story is accessible to everyone.
June 9, 2014
This is the cutest book I have seen in a long time! The story is cute and the pictures are DARLING! Every parent, grandparent, pre-school teacher & lower grades teachers should own a copy of this book.
February 5, 2015
Cute little bears, soft pastel color schemes, catchy rhymes, and a lesson on sharing...what's not to love about this book? Children and parents alike are sure to enjoy watching Big Brown Bear find his place.
July 18, 2016
four bears try to fit onto four chairs but where will big brown bear sit. Can they all fit? How will it work? A found this book a little longa nd it would need an extension activity to break it up for me and then it would be toddler and preschool level.
April 23, 2019
4 stars
This is a very cute picture book about four little bears who sit on four chairs. Then, a fifth friend comes along, and they have to work together to figure out how to get their fifth friend to fit on their four chairs. It serves as a nice story to learn about sharing.
- Miss Emily
This is a very cute picture book about four little bears who sit on four chairs. Then, a fifth friend comes along, and they have to work together to figure out how to get their fifth friend to fit on their four chairs. It serves as a nice story to learn about sharing.
- Miss Emily
August 21, 2009
Good for teaching cooperation and creativity in problem solving. Cute illustrations, too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews