A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van

An Amazon Best Book of the Month

★ “Kids will be wriggling in their seats… anticipating the chaos to come in this charming, action-packed adventure—especially if they’ve enjoyed educator and author Daniel Bernstrom’s previous bear-centric books, the boisterous A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree and A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish… Illustrator and animator Brandon James Scott’s impressively expressive art perfectly captures the wild shock of man and bear when their eyes finally meet… (the book) moves at perfectly paced breakneck speed, barreling toward a wild and very sweet conclusion. Bernstrom’s spare text expertly employs bouncy repetition and engaging rhyme that makes for a supremely upbeat reading experience, and kids will pore over Scott’s superb art in search of other donut-loving woodland creatures… It’s a joy-inducing, humorous tale that’s sure to be a favorite reread at bedtime, storytime or any time donuts are served.”—BookPage, starred review

★ “The tale’s minimal text, made up of single words and extremely short phrases…reveals an exciting, humorous storyline —a rare feat… No matter how dire the situation appears, Bernstrom and Scott keep the tale light and hilarious right to the end. Cleverly rendered rhymes and repetition encourage pre-readers to memorize the words and beginning readers to shine, while the art will tickle their funny bones. Short and utterly sweet.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Bernstrom’s newest work is a delightful explosion of color… The text has a compelling, lyrical cadence and is easy to read. The detailed and bright illustrations feature a hot pink donut truck and the beloved bear. Each illustration holds a well-placed point of view, showcasing action like a comic book. Every close-up helps build the tension in the plot. The story, like a donut, is short-lived and sweet.”—School Library Journal

“Another hilarious addition to the Bear books by Bernstrom (A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree and A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish), this will certainly get young readers giggling as they read about this mischievous bear sneaking up on ‘a happy man,’ beginning ‘a bear and a man in a donut van.’ … The text is short and simple, but highly effective when paired with Scott’s illustrations. Created digitally, Scott’s artwork dials the humor up a notch with comical expressions and high energy movement. The illustrations are bright and childlike, consisting of bubblegum pinks and lush greens with soft edges and gentle textures. And comedy is clearly one of Scott’s strengths. It’s one thing to read ‘a panicked man / a bear in a van,’ and another to actually see said panicked man with bulging eyes and mouth agape spotting a bear shoveling donuts in his pink-frosted mouth with a clear deer-in-the-headlights expression. And don’t forget to truly read the book from start to finish, as Scott makes sure even the post-publication page continues the story. This will be a family favorite for those who enjoy picture books that make you laugh… This is obviously a great pick for those who are fans of Bernstrom’s Bearbooks, but it will also appeal to those who enjoy Mo Willem’s Pigeon books, Colleen Larmour’s A Crocodile Should Never Skip Breakfast, and Jennifer Harney’s Underwear! Fans of illustrative works by Jon Klassen (This is Not My Hat), Shawn Harris (The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn), and Jennifer Harney (How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide) will love these illustrations.”—Youth Services Book Review

“Our favorite bear is back! With donuts! Read on for heart warming and frosting covered chaos – a must read!”—Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX

“This bear gets me every time, man. Leave it to these books to keep me laughing.”—Weller Book Works, Salt Lake City Utah

“The rhyming, repetition of phrases and delightful illustrations make this a fun read-aloud book.”—Mollie Mitchell, HearthFire Bookstore, Evergreen, CO

“This book is a delightful reading experience for readers and listeners of all ages. It is a perfect ‘cuddle-up before bedtime’ book because the rhythmic sentences lull the listener to sleep. The story is easy to understand and follow without concentration and the art is engaging and colorful.”—Nina Radakovich, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Atlanta, GA