| picture story books that explore and illuminate |
| The Ring Bear: A Rascally Wedding Adventure Written by David Michael Slater Illustrated by S.G. Brooks |
Westley and his mom are the perfect pair of pirates until she tells him she's going to marry Stan. When
she asks Westley to be the ring bearer at the wedding, he hears "Ring Bear" – whatever that means!
Westley decides there's only one thing to do...turn himself into a REAL bear and wreck everything!
So Westley, now a rascally bear, snatches some flowers, hides Stan’s picture and even pounces on mom
and Stan as they watch TV. While young listeners may laugh at Westley’s antics, they will also
empathize with his feelings. Adults will of course realize that Westley is using his active imagination to
express anger and frustration while working to resolve these feelings positively and come to terms with
his new family situation.
Stan finally realizes the importance of Westley's imaginary world and proves this to the boy by wearing a
pirate’s eye patch at the wedding. This is the turning point for Westley. When he sees that Stan can play
at pirates, Westley banishes the Ring Bear and morphs into a willing ring bearer.
she asks Westley to be the ring bearer at the wedding, he hears "Ring Bear" – whatever that means!
Westley decides there's only one thing to do...turn himself into a REAL bear and wreck everything!
So Westley, now a rascally bear, snatches some flowers, hides Stan’s picture and even pounces on mom
and Stan as they watch TV. While young listeners may laugh at Westley’s antics, they will also
empathize with his feelings. Adults will of course realize that Westley is using his active imagination to
express anger and frustration while working to resolve these feelings positively and come to terms with
his new family situation.
Stan finally realizes the importance of Westley's imaginary world and proves this to the boy by wearing a
pirate’s eye patch at the wedding. This is the turning point for Westley. When he sees that Stan can play
at pirates, Westley banishes the Ring Bear and morphs into a willing ring bearer.
Hardcover, 32 color pages, ages 4-8, ISBN 9780972922517, Spring 2004
To see more images from inside
"The Ring Bear" click here.
"The Ring Bear" click here.
Available at:
Awards and Review Highlights
* A Society of School Librarians International Honor Book 2004, in the Language Arts Picture Book category.
"This is a sweet, charming, funny, tender book. The art is warm and witty, the writing understated and, precisely because it isn't
maudlin, it brought a tear to my eye. It's not a "problem" story, to be trotted out when a kid's mother is about to remarry. It's a story
any kid could enjoy, treating the remarriage issue as the simple fact of family life that it so commonly is." Orson Scott Card, Hugo
and Nebula Award-winning author of Ender's Game
"**** Highly recommended. Be sure to read this delightful tale..." Mary M Alward, Great Books for Kids, Suite 101.com
Prominently featured in the San Diego Union Tribune's children's book review column, Under the Covers, by Christine Raynes,
between books by well-known children's authors Mem Fox and Janell Cannon.
"This charming, original story will engage readers of all ages. It is a much-needed book for children experiencing parents who are
remarrying." Mindy Hardwick, Children's Literature
"...[a] delightful tale." Charlotte Parents' Magazine
"...With humor and compassion, author David Michael Slater gets at the heart of the child's worry and anger."
Mary Quattlebaum, Washington Parent
"S.G. Brooks' artwork is remarkable. The facial expressions...are wonderfully amusing." Kim Hone-McMahon, Akron Beacon Journal
"...truly touching...clever in dealing with children who have vivid imaginations..." Allie Bates, MyShelf.com
The Ring Bear stars in a podcast! Listen to Andrea and Mark discuss this award-winning book as they drink their morning coffee, in their thrice-
weekly podcast, JustOneMoreBook.com or click here to read a transcript of the podcast.
"The Ring Bear will tug at your heart strings!" Betty Dravis, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer
"...This delightful children's picture story book explores the problem of how to merge a new family member into an already tight
family group, as well as the issues of jealousy and frustration that a child can feel in such a situation. All this ...without ever
mentioning any of these problems. At the same time, Slater presents a captivating story that will delight young and old readers alike. ...
quirky illustrations by S. G. Brooks graphically illustrate Westley's transformation into a bear, and back again into a boy..." Auggie
Moore, Large Print Reviews.com
"a charming and tender tale...[that] opens the door for parents and children to speak with each other about their own evolving
families." Family Times Inc.com
"In this warm and beautifully illustrated book, children get a realistic look at how it feels to have a parent re-marry. ...it will give
stepchildren hope about the potential for feeling loved and accepted by a new stepparent." Lisa Cohn, Stepfamily Advice Newsletter
"...addresses common stepfamily issues... and offers an imaginative and sensitive solution. It was a pleasure reading this - the text and
the illustrations are both lively, and work well together - as a successful illustrated book should!"
Karen D. Adolphson, Editor, Your Stepfamily Magazine
"...a children's picturebook that deals with a serious theme... Captivating illustrations...tell of the struggle to bridge rifts of fear and
mistrust with enduring love in this original, warmhearted, and highly recommended story..." The Midwest Book Review
"Disaster's averted in this picture book, which could be useful for youngsters unsure about a new stepparent."
Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Sensitively created, this picture book does a masterful job in showing us how confused a small child can become when his or her
home life is changed in any way... The illustrations...are full of vibrant and glowing colour and the illustrator’s portrayal of the sad
little boy is both touching and affectionate." Marya Jansen-Gruber, Looking Glass Review
See all reviews...
* A Society of School Librarians International Honor Book 2004, in the Language Arts Picture Book category.
"This is a sweet, charming, funny, tender book. The art is warm and witty, the writing understated and, precisely because it isn't
maudlin, it brought a tear to my eye. It's not a "problem" story, to be trotted out when a kid's mother is about to remarry. It's a story
any kid could enjoy, treating the remarriage issue as the simple fact of family life that it so commonly is." Orson Scott Card, Hugo
and Nebula Award-winning author of Ender's Game
"**** Highly recommended. Be sure to read this delightful tale..." Mary M Alward, Great Books for Kids, Suite 101.com
Prominently featured in the San Diego Union Tribune's children's book review column, Under the Covers, by Christine Raynes,
between books by well-known children's authors Mem Fox and Janell Cannon.
"This charming, original story will engage readers of all ages. It is a much-needed book for children experiencing parents who are
remarrying." Mindy Hardwick, Children's Literature
"...[a] delightful tale." Charlotte Parents' Magazine
"...With humor and compassion, author David Michael Slater gets at the heart of the child's worry and anger."
Mary Quattlebaum, Washington Parent
"S.G. Brooks' artwork is remarkable. The facial expressions...are wonderfully amusing." Kim Hone-McMahon, Akron Beacon Journal
"...truly touching...clever in dealing with children who have vivid imaginations..." Allie Bates, MyShelf.com
The Ring Bear stars in a podcast! Listen to Andrea and Mark discuss this award-winning book as they drink their morning coffee, in their thrice-
weekly podcast, JustOneMoreBook.com or click here to read a transcript of the podcast.
"The Ring Bear will tug at your heart strings!" Betty Dravis, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer
"...This delightful children's picture story book explores the problem of how to merge a new family member into an already tight
family group, as well as the issues of jealousy and frustration that a child can feel in such a situation. All this ...without ever
mentioning any of these problems. At the same time, Slater presents a captivating story that will delight young and old readers alike. ...
quirky illustrations by S. G. Brooks graphically illustrate Westley's transformation into a bear, and back again into a boy..." Auggie
Moore, Large Print Reviews.com
"a charming and tender tale...[that] opens the door for parents and children to speak with each other about their own evolving
families." Family Times Inc.com
"In this warm and beautifully illustrated book, children get a realistic look at how it feels to have a parent re-marry. ...it will give
stepchildren hope about the potential for feeling loved and accepted by a new stepparent." Lisa Cohn, Stepfamily Advice Newsletter
"...addresses common stepfamily issues... and offers an imaginative and sensitive solution. It was a pleasure reading this - the text and
the illustrations are both lively, and work well together - as a successful illustrated book should!"
Karen D. Adolphson, Editor, Your Stepfamily Magazine
"...a children's picturebook that deals with a serious theme... Captivating illustrations...tell of the struggle to bridge rifts of fear and
mistrust with enduring love in this original, warmhearted, and highly recommended story..." The Midwest Book Review
"Disaster's averted in this picture book, which could be useful for youngsters unsure about a new stepparent."
Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Sensitively created, this picture book does a masterful job in showing us how confused a small child can become when his or her
home life is changed in any way... The illustrations...are full of vibrant and glowing colour and the illustrator’s portrayal of the sad
little boy is both touching and affectionate." Marya Jansen-Gruber, Looking Glass Review
See all reviews...
| See a companion to The Ring Bear, Flour Girl (Wagon Wheel Press), by clicking on the cover to the left. |
