Humphrey's Bear

by Jan Wahl

Book Overview

A Christopher Award winner, 1987A "Redbook" Top Ten Picture Book of 1987An IRA-CBC Children's Choice for 1988

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805011692
• ISBN13: 9780805011692
• Release Date: September 1989
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 10.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Humphrey's Bear (An Owlet Book)

ISBN 0805011692 - This multiple award winner (1987 Christopher Award winner, 1987 Redbook Top Ten Picture Book, 1998 IRA-CBC Children's Choice) is one that every parent ought to read. Yes, parent. It's a great book for children, but more importantly, it is a touching reminder for the adults who need reminding, now and then, that children grow up fast enough without you wishing away childish things. As Humphrey heads to bed, the teddy bear that used to be his father's in hand, he overhears his father suggesting the Humphrey might just be a little old for a teddy bear. Humphrey doesn't want to hear his mother's response, just heads up to bed and off to sleep. In his dreams, he sails with his bear - now grown to adult size - and nearly loses him when a typhoon swamps their boat. Humphrey swims to shore and follows the sound of a banjo to find his friend waiting for him. Suddenly, Humphrey jerks awake, calling for his bear, to find his father standing over his bed, bear in hand. His father understands immediately why Humphrey is looking for the bear and holds him, while he holds the bear. Illustrator William Joyce almost manages to outshine the author, with fantastically bed-time-dark images. Humphrey is surprisingly small in almost every illustration, walking up stairs that are almost as tall as his legs are long, or lying in a huge bed on a gigantic pillow. Most of the drawings are light on details, leaving the very small Humphrey to look that much smaller. Jan Wahl, the author, lives up to those images. The text is as simple and without flourishes as the images, but still manages to tell an exciting adventure story with a wonderful, heart-warming ending. This is one that, even after several reads, with tug at your heart strings. - AnnaLovesBooks

A Classic Bedtime Story in the Style of Sendak's, Where the Wild Things Are

Humphrey's Bear is a classic award-winning bedtime tale very much in the style of Mauric Sendak's, Where the Wild Things Are. It is the story of a young boy named Humphrey who, much to his father's dismay, goes to bed with his teddy bear. As he dreams, Humphrey's front yard becomes the setting for a seafaring adventure in which his teddy bear becomes a large and rather bossy shipmate. Humphrey's Bear has a rich and colorful text which makes it perfect for sharing as a read-aloud story. The text is complimented nicely by dark illustrations which evoke a sense of mystery and adventure. My four-year-old daughter really enjoys listening to me read this book. She isn't bothered by the fact that the teddy bear becomes a bossy bloke, and it doesn't bother her that Humphrey awakens to find his father holding the bear, as if he was planning to take it away as his son slept. Maybe these are things that only an adult would notice.

warm warm and warm

william joyce's illustrations make this one of my very favorite books: it is the book i always give as a baby shower gift. ANYONE can give "goodnight moon" but this book is special. the first 5 or 6 times i read it to my son i cried at the last line. i like how the FATHER is the one who comforts the boy (on the last page) and it is the mother who looks on lovingly. simply a wonderful, cozy book, if ever there was one.