| 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.
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.
Hardcover, 32 color pages, ages 4-8
ISBN 9780972922517, Spring 2004
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. |
| picture books that explore and illuminate |
