Bear's Magic Show - by Mike Wohnoutka (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Could the third time be the charm? Bear is determined to break his string of showtime disasters in this comedy of perseverance from the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning illustrator of See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog.

Bear's track record when it comes to putting on a show hasn't been exactly stellar. His puppet show was a flop (anyone could get tangled in those strings, right?). His baking show had some, er, unexpected developments. But Bear is confident that his magic show will be a success! Can Bear ace the tricks on his program for his eager friend Fox and pull a rabbit out of a hat, guess a card, and . . . well, there's always the disappearing act! With a funny narrative told in bold visual jokes and simple language, this latest act from the award-winning Mike Wohnoutka will have newly confident readers lining up for an encore.

Review Quotes

Lightly sketched watercolor and colored pencil illustrations expressively capture the hapless subject's quick-changing moods. Bear's eagerness to keep trying new approaches, despite repeated setbacks, makes for an endearing portrait of undertaking new things.
--Publishers Weekly

Failure leaves Bear gobsmacked but not crushed, and the satisfying ending redefines success. Lots of single-syllable words, generous text size, and clear fonts, both serif and sans, as well as several wordless pages, will support developing readers. A giggle-worthy show with an appealing punchline bound to please early readers.
--Kirkus Reviews

Wohnoutka's cheery watercolor illustrations are full of humorous details. . . . Indeed, much of the storytelling and humor is revealed through the art, though the wry, understated tone of the text underscores those details. This dance between pictures and words makes the book a fun read-aloud option, while the simple, direct text is accessible for inexperienced readers.
--Booklist

About the Author

Mike Wohnoutka has illustrated more than thirty books for young readers, including Mr. Fox's Game of "No!"; How to Apologize; Go and Get with Rex; and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning See the Cat Three Stories About a Dog, all written by his good friend David LaRochelle. He is also the author-illustrator of Ups and Downs: A Book of Emotions and other picture books. A native of Spicer, Minnesota, Mike Wohnoutka currently lives with his family in Minneapolis.