A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van - (Bear, Bee) by Daniel Bernstrom (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An Amazon Best Book of the Month

★ Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ BookPage, starred review

Hungry as always, Bear finally feasts on DONUTS in his third picture book adventure. With delightful art, perfect rhyme, and the series' indelible screwball appeal, A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van will have everyone in stitches and demanding repeat readings!

Everyone's favorite hungry bear is back! This time Bear discovers a van full of donuts--YUM! Bear climbs in the van, but the unsuspecting donut man doesn't see what's going on. Until... he looks in his rear view mirror, and OMG!!! What should a donut man do when a bear is eating donuts in his van?

Here is a road trip neither bear nor man will ever forget--with mooses, traffic jams, and a giant forest donut spill. With mayhem and fun on every page, the critically acclaimed duo of Daniel Bernstrom and Brandon James Scott are at their best in this high-stakes joyride through millions of donuts, perfect for toddlers and new readers alike.

Review Quotes

An Amazon Best Book of the Month

★ "Parallel lives converge in the funniest possible way in A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van... Kids will be wriggling in their seats at this point, anticipating the chaos to come in this charming, action-packed adventure--especially if they've enjoyed educator and author Daniel Bernstrom's previous bear-centric books, the boisterous A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree and A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish... Illustrator and animator Brandon James Scott's impressively expressive art perfectly captures the wild shock of man and bear when their eyes finally meet: Donuts fly, crumbs spray and the two confection connoisseurs shriek in mutual terror as the speeding van careens down a winding mountain road . . . and heads right for a googly-eyed-moose traffic jam! Now what? A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van moves at perfectly paced breakneck speed, barreling toward a wild and very sweet conclusion. Bernstrom's spare text expertly employs bouncy repetition and engaging rhyme that makes for a supremely upbeat reading experience, and kids will pore over Scott's superb art in search of other donut-loving woodland creatures (unsurprisingly, there are many). It's a joy-inducing, humorous tale that's sure to be a favorite reread at bedtime, storytime or any time donuts are served."--BookPage, starred review

★ "What happens when a bear hijacks a van filled with pastries? The tale's minimal text, made up of single words and extremely short phrases, nevertheless reveals an exciting, humorous storyline --a rare feat... No matter how dire the situation appears, Bernstrom and Scott keep the tale light and hilarious right to the end. Cleverly rendered rhymes and repetition encourage pre-readers to memorize the words and beginning readers to shine, while the art will tickle their funny bones. Short and utterly sweet."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Bernstrom's newest work is a delightful explosion of color... The text has a compelling, lyrical cadence and is easy to read. The detailed and bright illustrations feature a hot pink donut truck and the beloved bear. Each illustration holds a well-placed point of view, showcasing action like a comic book. Every close-up helps build the tension in the plot. The story, like a donut, is short-lived and sweet."--School Library Journal

"Our favorite bear is back! With donuts! Read on for heart warming and frosting covered chaos - a must read!"--Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX

"This bear gets me every time, man. Leave it to these books to keep me laughing."--Weller Book Works, Salt Lake City Utah

"The rhyming, repetition of phrases and delightful illustrations make this a fun read-aloud book."--Mollie Mitchell, HearthFire Bookstore, Evergreen, CO

"This book is a delightful reading experience for readers and listeners of all ages. It is a perfect 'cuddle-up before bedtime' book because the rhythmic sentences lull the listener to sleep. The story is easy to understand and follow without concentration and the art is engaging and colorful."--Nina Radakovich, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Atlanta, GA

About the Author

Daniel Bernstrom is a teacher, a poet, and the author of seven picture books, including One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel. His book Big Papa and the Time Machine won the Minnesota Book Award and is the story of his grandfather leaving the south to find work and start a family amidst the challenges of 20th-century African American life. Daniel lives in Worthington, Minnesota with his family.

By day Brandon James Scott is a creative director working in animation and by night he illustrates picture books. For over a decade Brandon has worked on a range of hit animated entertainment including his own creation, the award-winning series, Justin Time. He loves to make art that brings adventure, levity, heart, and curiosity for the fantastic and whimsical world around us and in our dreams. A born and raised Canadian, he currently lives with his family in Toronto.