From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K-A slight, flawed story. When Albert arrives at Mr. Jolly's toy store, the other playthings stare at his sad expression and decide to cheer him up. They put on a show, resulting in a series of mishaps that culminates with Sally the dancing hippo crashing into the bear and leaving a huge pair of smiling lipstick stains on his face. This leads to much laughter, especially from Albert, who has been trying to explain all along that he only looks sad. The story is a bit long for its intended audience, and the logic of Sally kissing Albert when she crashes into him is rather odd. At times the text does not flow smoothly. However, the illustrations are large, lively, and animated, and would work well either one-on-one or with a group. Children will also enjoy finding some of their favorite characters from other stories hidden in the pictures, including Kipper, Paddington, Bob the Builder, and Elmer the patchwork elephant. Libraries with a strong following for Butterworth will most likely find an audience for this book, but others can pass on it.Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Book Description
When Albert arrives in Mr. Jolly's toy shop, the other toys think he is the saddest-looking bear they have ever seen. Determined to cheer him up, the toys spring into action. But underneath his frown, Albert the bear has a surprise of his own. . . .
Nick Butterworth's vibrant illustrations and memorable characters tell a delightfully charming story filled with giggles -- and some very big laughs indeed!
Albert the Bear ANNOTATION
The toys in Mr. Jolly's toy shop try to cheer up a sad-looking stuffed bear named Albert.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
When Albert arrives in Mr. Jolly's toy shop, the other toys think he is the saddest-looking bear they have ever seen. Determined to cheer him up, the toys spring into action. But underneath his frown, Albert the bear has a surprise of his own. . . .
Nick Butterworth's vibrant illustrations and memorable characters tell a delightfully charming story filled with giggles — and some very big laughs indeed!
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
A bright red "Albert the Bear" tag attached to this book's jacket announces its title; the tag seems to dangle from the pleasingly plump, furry protagonist's ear. Albert could well hold his own at Toys R Us Butterworth (My Mom Is Excellent) makes this droopy-eyed, pouting polar bear imminently huggable. In this light-as-air story of friendship, Albert's arrival at a toy store elicits concern from the others. " Poor love," says Sally, a hippo decked out in pink tutu and toe shoes. "We must try to cheer him up." So the toys put on a show, starring a mouse who forgets his jokes, a klutzy jack-in-the-box, and Sally with the two left feet: " `My dancing is not funny,' said Sally. `It is beautiful and artistic.' The other toys tried not to smile." Throughout their attempts to prompt a smile from him, Albert tries to fit in a word edgewise, to no avail. But Sally's bungling ballet results in the bear's laughter and an explanation that beneath his manufactured demeanor, he really is a happy fellow. This gentle reminder not to judge by appearances slips in unobtrusively, thanks to the buoyant text and illustrations. Silhouetted toys frolic across abundant white space on one page; facing pages display square-shaped scenes within a wide border, its contents spilling out energetically. In one spread, Sally leaps "artistically" out of the panel illustration, joyfully oblivious to her imminent collision with Albert. Cameo appearances by Waldo, Paddington, Raymond Briggs's Snowman and other popular characters add to the book's understated charm. Ages 3-7. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Leslie Rounds
Albert the Bear is a cute, overstuffed polar bear with a sad expression on his face. After he is added to the stock of a toy store, the other toys decide to try and cheer him up, and launch into a mishap riddled show. Finally, Sally, a dancing hippo, falls on Albert and accidentally gives him a large, lipstick smeared kiss, causing Albert to burst into laughter. He explains, as he has been trying to do all along, that he isn't really unhappy; he was just made to look that way. There are a few problems with this story, the greatest of which is that the text is rather long for the intended audience. It is also a bit unclear how falling on Albert causes Sally to kiss him. The large, bright illustrations are attractive, and may hold the interest of children, in spite of the wordy text. Hidden amongst the toys are several commercially popular characters, such as Bob the Builder, Paddington, and Kipper, and many children may find it amusing to look for these familiar figures. While the illustrations help to redeem it, this book would not be an essential purchase for most libraries. There are any number of better bear books available. 2003, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 6.
School Library Journal
PreS-K-A slight, flawed story. When Albert arrives at Mr. Jolly's toy store, the other playthings stare at his sad expression and decide to cheer him up. They put on a show, resulting in a series of mishaps that culminates with Sally the dancing hippo crashing into the bear and leaving a huge pair of smiling lipstick stains on his face. This leads to much laughter, especially from Albert, who has been trying to explain all along that he only looks sad. The story is a bit long for its intended audience, and the logic of Sally kissing Albert when she crashes into him is rather odd. At times the text does not flow smoothly. However, the illustrations are large, lively, and animated, and would work well either one-on-one or with a group. Children will also enjoy finding some of their favorite characters from other stories hidden in the pictures, including Kipper, Paddington, Bob the Builder, and Elmer the patchwork elephant. Libraries with a strong following for Butterworth will most likely find an audience for this book, but others can pass on it.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
In this brief, clever cautionary take on the dangers of judging by appearances, the arrival of a very downcast-looking bear in a toy shop prompts the other toys to put together a show, in an effort to cheer him up. Several acts go embarrassingly awry, however, before Albert can explain that he's not really sad, just constructed that way-an assertion that he backs up with a booming, infectious laugh after tutu-clad Sally the hippo falls over him, leaving his face smeared with lipstick. Butterworth depicts Albert as a big, plush, eminently huggable polar bear (secondary rights, anyone?-a paper nametag is attached to his ear on the cover), and rewards observant, culturally literate readers with guest appearances on the toy shelves by the likes of Paddington, Kipper, Elmer, Bob the Builder, Raymond Briggs's Snowman and several other familiar characters. A child-friendly outing, as usual, and the product placement comes off more as a shared joke than a commercial ploy. (Picture book. 5-7)
Art & Photography
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