Going to Grandpa's - Hardcover

reS-K-Little Bear and her androgynous travel companion, Big Bear, board the train for a long trip to Grandpa's. In typical child fashion, Little Bear soon wants to know when they will get there. Big Bear uses the distractions of eating, drawing, and story reading before leaving her to her own devices. The choice to run back and forth through the train bumping into people and encouraging another youngster to join in the frolic may be acceptable in England, where the book was originally published, but Amtrak personnel are less likely to smile indulgently and say "Whoops" if run down by pint-sized passengers. Color illustrations of the animal characters support the mundane text but do nothing to elevate it. Fans of Kiss It Better (Dutton, 2000) may want to revisit these two bears, but other readers can wait until Little Bear's youthful exuberance finds a better channel.

Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.