The Ring Bear

by David Michael Slater

Full of warmth and gentle humor, this is the story of Westley, an imaginative, precocious boy, and his struggle with the intrusion of an unwanted new stepdad into the happy, comfortable family he and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0972922512
• ISBN13: 9780972922517
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Flashlight Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.7" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

The Ring Bear will tug at your heart strings!

This highly original book by author David Michael Slater is a fascinating picture book that enthralled me from cover to cover, even as it captivated children all around the world. Published by Flashlight Press, one of my favorite children's publishing houses, the book is geared for children ages 4-8, a category I love to read. The Ring Bear has a little bit of everything: love, joy, anger, fear, family unity, humor, adventure and much more. It deals with the serious subject of parental remarriage. The main character is a young boy named Westley who is used to his mother being a single parent and has adjusted to life without a father. His world is turned upside down when she decides to remarry. In order to help her son with his objection to the marriage and assuage his anger and fear, his mother tells him he's going to be the ring bearer at the wedding--hoping this will make him feel more secure. Westley thinks she said "ring bear," so he comes to the wedding dressed as a bear and tries to scare everyone away. That's when the problems--and the fun--begin. What happens then? How do the wedding guests react? How do his mother and Stan, his future stepfather, take it? Is there a happy solution to this problem, a situation that sadly happens more and more often in today's world? If so, how does it happen? Will the troubled boy finally come to realize how much his mother loves him and learn to trust her? And what does Stan do to break the ice with Westley? Obviously, I can't tell you any more without spoiling the plot, but I can tell you that despite the serious theme, this is a book that has many giggles for you and your little ones. It's a warm-hearted book that will tug at your heart-strings ... as you cry one minute, laugh the next. Slater makes his characters so believable you will feel like you are there with them, and no one will be able to forget the mischievous, yet endearing Westley. The colorful, charming illustrations by talented artist S. G. Brooks enhance the story-line, helping bring it even more alive. This unusual wedding adventure is a touching book which will be helpful for children whose parents are remarrying. I recommend it highly. If you feel the same, look for Grandfather's Wrinkles, Grandpa for Sale, and Carla's Sandwich ... other releases by this same popular publisher whose editor has the uncanny ability to know what children enjoy reading. Review by: Betty Dravis, 2008 author of The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley

Imaginative Adventure

David Michael Slater is a Language Arts teacher who has a unique way of expressing magical realism from a child's perspective. It goes a little beyond imagination and the characters play out fantasy situations and become pirates. Westley is a young child struggling with the idea of his mother remarrying and when she asks him to be the ring bearer, he thinks she wants him to be a "Ring Bear." He is very upset and decides to ruin her plans. He doesn't like Stan because he seems to lack the playful imagination Westley thrives on. As he acts out his frustration, he becomes a bear or a pirate and through his imaginary world he undergoes a psychological metamorphosis. You can really feel his initial anger and jealousy. The last few pages are heartwarming and as Stan realizes he has to play Westley's creative game he calls out: "Captain, there's a bear stowed away on our ship!" Westley looks up and as he runs down the isle, he transforms from a bear into a loveable and dutiful son. If you enjoy this book, look for: The Only One Club Carla's Sandwich Holly Bloom's Garden ~The Rebecca Review

Warm and Realistic Look At Being A Stepchild

In this warm and beautifully illustrated book, children get a realistic look at how it feels to have a parent re-marry. The main character, Westley, knows his mom loves him; but what about Stan, her fiancé? The author shows how confused a child can be when a new stepparent enters his life. The author does this in a way that is engaging for both adults and children. In the end, "The Ring Bear" provides children with hope about the potential for feeling loved and accepted by a new stepparent.

Fantastic!

This is a fantastic children's book that addresses a young child's hurt feelings with his divorced mother plans to marry a new man. The vocabulary is well chosen and expresses very well the feelings of insecurity a young child may feel when a new "father" enters the family. The book abounds with love and humor - especially when the young boy misunderstands the meaning of "bearer"! Lastly, the art work is extraordinary and wonderfully whimsical! I'm buying it for my grandson.

Perfect!

Got a chance to see an advance copy of this amazing book. It's as sensitively handled as CHEESE LOUISE is hilarious. Full of gentle humor and wisdom, I have no doubt the book will be sought out by every parent with a child dealing with his or her plans to marry--but also by any fan of good story and truly innovative illustrations. (...)