Don't Feed the Bear

Kathleen Doherty has taught elementary school for over 30 years in Chicago. She’s a Reading Specialist and an Educational Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction who enjoys writing humorous stories and reading aloud to kids. Her work has appeared in TIME magazine, The Mailbox, Highlights for Children, Highlights High Five, Highlights HELLO, and Spider Magazine. She has won the Highlights Pewter Plate Award, the Highlights Celebrate National Poetry Contest, and a letter of merit from SCBWI’s Magazine Merit Competition. She currently lives in Schererville, IN.Chip Wass is an award-winning artist who designs characters and illustrations for Disney, Cartoon Network, The New York Times, ESPN, and Wendy's. His previous books include Monster Knows Patterns, and Monster Knows Numbers (Picture Window Books). Chip lives in Baltimore, MD. Learn more about chip at chipwass.com.

“In this children’s picture book, a park ranger and a bear each warn tourists not to feed the other. Portly, brown Bear lives in a park and loves campers’ leftovers. So when he discovers the park ranger installing a sign that reads ‘DON’T FEED THE BEAR,’ he’s displeased and puts up his own: ‘DON’T FEED THE RANGER.’ As a result, campers with pie, ice cream, and soda feed neither one. Bear craftily disguises himself in a cap and T-shirt that claim that he’s ‘not a bear.’ But it doesn’t work, leading to a ‘war with words’ as bear and ranger repeatedly vandalize each other’s signs with spray paint, markers, and brushes. They finally come to an understanding, however, and revise the signs to encourage visitors to feed them both. Together, they enjoy a delicious picnic of campers’ ‘goodies.’ In her debut, Doherty tells an amusing story with good sound effects (‘SMACKITY! SMACK! WHOMP!’) and vivid, compressed sentences perfect for reading aloud. Children will certainly appreciate the characters’ love of treats. Wass’ (Monster Knows Shapes, 2014, etc.) stylish, retro-feeling illustrations hilariously capture action and character, such as Bear’s angry yet lovable stomping. . . . Delightfully funny, with much verve and style . . . ” —KirkusReviews.com