Mimi and Bear in the snow
(Book)

Mimi and her best buddy, her teddy bear Bear, do everything together, including making the most of a cold winter day: ice-skating, hosting an alfresco tea party, and building a snow beast. But when it's time to go indoors, Bear is missing, and he stays missing all night. When the next day turns warm and sunny, Mimi discovers that other things have disappeared as well there's no more ice-skating pond or snow. However, the melting snow reveals a soggy Bear, who once again becomes Mimi's inseparable companion. The story is told in simple sentences framed around a repeating refrain, Bear was there (until, of course, he wasn't). Mimi is a cuddly, round, bundled up bunny, and her fuzzy, cartoonish appearance will soften any missing-toy angst, as will the reassuring visual clue indicating Bear's actual location, which foreshadows the happy ending. Fans of Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny series or Robie H. Harris' Maybe a Bear Ate It! (2008) will endear to this gentle story of a lost toy found.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2015 Booklist

It's snowing, and Mimi, a girl rabbit in a woolly cap, embarks on a series of pretend-play adventures in the company of her stuffed blue bear. "When Mimi won the gold medal for best ice-skating, Bear was there," writes Trasler (the Chickees series), as Mimi confidently glides across a tiny frozen pond while the toy sits attentively on a tree stump. But when Mimi is called inside, she realizes something is wrong, and the book's refrain changes from "Bear was there" to "Bear was not there." Will Mimi ever see Bear again? Since readers can see where Bear has been left, there's little doubt that this separation is only temporary, but that doesn't make Mimi and her situation any less sympathetic. Trasler skillfully characterizes Mimi as understandably anxious but also resolutely independent, and the story's wrap-up also underscores Mimi's ability to solve problems on her own. The softly textured, substantial shapes of Trasler's illustrations reinforce the subtle emotional narrative-just like Mimi, the pictures have a plainspoken eloquence and an intriguing dimensionality. Ages 1-4. Agent: Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Toddler-PreS-Mimi and her stuffed bear are inseparable. They head out on a wintry day, and Bear keeps his girl company as she ice-skates, tries on fancy hats for tea, and builds a scary snow beast. However, when it is time to go inside, Bear is nowhere to be found. After a sad night, she heads back outside to see that the ice has melted, the fancy hats are gone, and so is the beast. All that remains from the previous day's play is Bear in a puddle. The happy reunion of Mimi and her beloved toy will be a hit with toddlers everywhere. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This sweet and relatable story about a bunny and her stuffed bear cavorting on a winter day offers an authentic snapshot of imaginative play, plus a solution for kids who are prone to losing things. Repetition helps structure the text but doesn't overwhelm the plot, and the soft, pastel-hued illustrations capture the feeling of playing outside in the snow. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Mimi's beloved toy accompanies her everywhere she goes. On a lovely snowy day, she goes outside to play, and Bear is there to watch and applaud her wintry triumphs. She ice-skates on a puddle and wins an imaginary gold medal. She makes an extravagant, decorated snow hat for herself and one for Bear. But when she completes a hairy snow beast and is ready to end her adventures, Bear is nowhere to be found, and she must return home without him. The next day, the snow has melted, and her skating rink and the snow hats are all gone, but there, in place of the melted snow beast, is Bear. Now Mimi keeps Bear safely tucked in a backpack wherever she goes, so she will never lose him again. Employing brief descriptive sentences and repeating the mantra "Bear was there," Trasler's gentle tale beautifully captures a child's love for a dependable, cuddly friend, no matter if it is inanimate. Mimi, who is a bunny, and Bear stand out in brightly hued red, gold and blue, while the snowy setting is rendered in soft whites, grays and greens. Sharp-eyed young readers will notice Bear as he is caught in the makings of the snow beast and will want to tell Mimi where to look. Warm and fuzzy and very reassuring. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Mimi and her best buddy, her teddy bear Bear, do everything together, including making the most of a cold winter day: ice-skating, hosting an alfresco tea party, and building a snow beast. But when it's time to go indoors, Bear is missing, and he stays missing all night. When the next day turns warm and sunny, Mimi discovers that other things have disappeared as well—there's no more ice-skating pond or snow. However, the melting snow reveals a soggy Bear, who once again becomes Mimi's inseparable companion. The story is told in simple sentences framed around a repeating refrain, "Bear was there" (until, of course, he wasn't). Mimi is a cuddly, round, bundled up bunny, and her fuzzy, cartoonish appearance will soften any missing-toy angst, as will the reassuring visual clue indicating Bear's actual location, which foreshadows the happy ending. Fans of Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny series or Robie H. Harris' Maybe a Bear Ate It! (2008) will endear to this gentle story of a lost toy found. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

It's snowing, and Mimi, a girl rabbit in a woolly cap, embarks on a series of pretend-play adventures in the company of her stuffed blue bear. "When Mimi won the gold medal for best ice-skating, Bear was there," writes Trasler (the Chickees series), as Mimi confidently glides across a tiny frozen pond while the toy sits attentively on a tree stump. But when Mimi is called inside, she realizes something is wrong, and the book's refrain changes from "Bear was there" to "Bear was not there." Will Mimi ever see Bear again? Since readers can see where Bear has been left, there's little doubt that this separation is only temporary, but that doesn't make Mimi and her situation any less sympathetic. Trasler skillfully characterizes Mimi as understandably anxious but also resolutely independent, and the story's wrap-up also underscores Mimi's ability to solve problems on her own. The softly textured, substantial shapes of Trasler's illustrations reinforce the subtle emotional narrative—just like Mimi, the pictures have a plainspoken eloquence and an intriguing dimensionality. Ages 1–4. Agent: Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Oct.)

PreS—Mimi, a rabbit, spends all day playing in the snow with her toy bear. When it is time to go inside, Bear is nowhere to be found. Sad and lonely, Mimi goes in without him. When she awakes, she is determined to find her faithful friend. As she ventures outside, she realizes that the snow has disappeared; fortunately, Bear has not. Children will relate to this special friendship. Mimi's face depicts various expressions young children will be able to understand. Background illustrations are done in muted colors to represent the landscape and cold weather. Mimi and her beloved bear, however, are depicted in vibrant colors, making them stand out on the page. A sweet, charming story that young children will enjoy.—Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

Toddler-PreS—Mimi and her stuffed bear are inseparable. They head out on a wintry day, and Bear keeps his girl company as she ice-skates, tries on fancy hats for tea, and builds a scary snow beast. However, when it is time to go inside, Bear is nowhere to be found. After a sad night, she heads back outside to see that the ice has melted, the fancy hats are gone, and so is the beast. All that remains from the previous day's play is Bear in a puddle. The happy reunion of Mimi and her beloved toy will be a hit with toddlers everywhere.