Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In a series of short, cozy episodes, Baby Bear (first introduced in I Promise) finds four different things: Papa Bear's missing boot, a rare wildflower he almost picks, a baby bird fallen from its nest, and a new human friend. The accessible adventures and expressive pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations should endear Baby Bear to audiences not quite ready for Minarik/Sendak's Little Bear stories. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

PreS-Reminiscent of books from another era, this is a collection of four short stories about an active and curious little bear named Baby Bear. The book is similar in look and format to the "Little Bear" series by Else Holmelund Minarik and many of the short story collections by Arnold Lobel. The illustrations, completed in ink and watercolor, are warm and beautiful and add to the nostalgic charm of the book. The pictures are so well done that they alone could tell the stories. The characters are happy and positive and the setting is rich and inviting. Each selection is about 10 pages long and relates a story of Baby Bear interacting in a kind and helpful manner with those around him. Emergent readers seeking a challenge will enjoy these stories independently, while younger children will enjoy having them read aloud. VERDICT A stellar first selection for every young children's library collection. -Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Here are four gentle stories about Baby Bear, who's a bit older than his name suggests. After all, this sturdy fellow is independent enough to have his own mild adventures in the forest. In the first chapter, Baby Bear goes fishing, catches a red boot, and, after some searching, locates its owner. In the second, he finds a surprise for his mother. The third chapter involves returning a baby bird to its nest, while in the final one, he befriends a little girl. Similar in tone to Minarik and Sendak's classic Little Bear series for young readers, these stories are simply written, with a good amount of dialogue and enough repetition to reinforce the vocabulary. The artwork pen-and-ink drawings brightened with watercolor washes create an idyllic woodland setting. In both the text and the illustrations, there's an earnestness about these characters that is childlike and endearing. With a wider format than most books for beginning readers, this also makes an appealing picture book for reading aloud to the younger set.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2017 Booklist

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Somewhat longer than most early readers but not quite a chapter book, McPhail's latest offering is distinguished by an old-fashioned sweetness. Brief chapters tell four simple stories about things Baby Bear finds while exploring in the woods: a boot, a flower, a baby bird, and a friend. This kind and considerate bear sets out to find the owner of the boot, shares the flower with his mother, rescues the bird, and makes a new friend. Each stand-alone tale is linked by common, anthropomorphized animal characters and stars the winsome bear readers may recognize from I Promise (2017). Watercolor provides soft texture for McPhail's charming pen-and-ink illustrations. Rather than bleeding to the edges, the pictures occupy the middle of each page, while two to five lines of text per page are set against clean, white backgrounds. Although they are packaged as a reader, the stories seem designed for much younger children. They work well for reading aloud with young children, but McPhail does not employ any of the strategies that help children read independently. By the time children are ready for text this long, they may also want more exciting adventures. The innocence and gentle tone of these "Tiny Tales" pay homage to the original Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik but without the memorable wit of Maurice Sendak's illustrations. (Early reader. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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Baby Bear, first seen in 2017's I Promise, makes a series of discoveries in this cheery collection of four stories. McPhail's characteristically unadorned and finely lined ink-and-watercolor illustrations showcase Baby Bear's verdant woodland home and earnest, easygoing personality. In "Baby Bear Finds a Boot," he hooks a rubber boot while fishing and becomes determined to "give it back" to its rightful owner. In subsequent tales, Baby Bear's "finds" offer other problem-solving opportunities. How can Baby Bear share a rare flower without picking it? Can he keep a baby bird safe after it falls out of his nest? Who will he play with when all of his friends are busy? Solutions to these challenges are all well within Baby Bear's reach, and McPhail subtly reminds readers that they, too, are capable of accomplishing quite a bit. These simple, well-structured stories are suffused with warmth and a spirit of generosity, and the book is ideally suited to burgeoning readers who are eager to put their developing skills to the test. Ages 4-8. Agent: Faith Hamlin, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.