Bear's Picture

A bear wants to paint a picture, and so he does; however, two fine, proper gentlemen don’t think that it is a very fine picture at all. But just because they don’t see what the bear sees doesn’t make it a bad picture, right? Daniel Pinkwater turns art (and art critics) upside down in this classic tale, now beautifully reillustrated by D. B. Johnson.

"[A] quirky, sardonic and highly entertaining view of what makes art." Booklist starred, Feb 1 2008 Booklist, ALA, Starred Review

"Bear makes a grand champion for all young artists...it wouldn't hurt for certain grown-ups to hear this message." Kirkus 3/15/08 Kirkus Reviews

"Imaginative illustrations from a notable ursine stylist… lend pizzazz to this reillustrated 1972 bear-centric tale." Publishers Weekly, starred, 1/21/08 Publishers Weekly, Starred

"Children whose creative efforts have been thwarted will… empathize with this paw-on-hip, nose-in-the-air bear who exudes confidence." SLJ April 2008

School Library Journal

"Pinkwater's text has an abstract… tone...subtextual eye-rolling at the...prejudgment of the critics will put kids happily on the bear's side." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

". . . this aritst bear, broad-beamed and loveable, won't be stopped. 'It is MY picture,' he says, and a splendid one it is." The Chicago Tribune