A Splendid Friend, Indeed

by Suzanne Bloom

Book Overview

A Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book

This charming picture book says volumes about friendship with a few select words and accessible illustrations.

Bear wants to read and write and think. But his friend Goose wants to talk and talk... and talk! Bear and Goose are so different! But can they still be friends? Toddlers and preschoolers will learn about how to make new friends through this delightful story.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590782860
• ISBN13: 9781590782866
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Astra Young Readers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 1 to 3 years

Customer Reviews

Instant Classic

The cover illustration right away drew me in. This is a very sweet little board book and very worthy of the Seuss honor. The illustrations appear to be chalk, which is not a very common medium in children's illustration, with all the clicks of a computer available to us these days. The illustrations are very textured and vivid and invite close scrutiny as the characters come alive. Having several younger siblings I have lived the story in the book countless times. The Bear is in the midst of some quiet Bear time, reading etc. And the Goose is ready to chat, ready to spend some time with someone else, not really paying attention to how the Bear is trying to brush him off. However, even the Bear can't brush off the very sweet note the Goose gives him. Its a lovely story about friendship, its worth buying for the illustrations alone however.

Splendid, indeed

The opening pages of this book are wordless but the incredible texture of the polar bear's fur stretches across two pages and begs to be touched. The fur is rendered in pastels or chalk and the tips of the hairs have a green algae tinge to them just like polar bears I have seen at the zoo. Duck is enthusiastically trying to gain the bear's attention by claiming to enjoy all the things Bear enjoys like reading and writing. Bear is not amused nor interested until Duck writes him a letter from the heart. They become splendid friends. The simple language is embellished by the comical expressions of Bear and Duck. There is a easy warmth to this story that underscores the importance of not making snap judgements about new people we meet.

I thought the book was amazing

This is a friendly and kind book indeed. It was about a friendly goose nice, energized and inquisitive, and a polar bear, irritable and grouchy. Interestingly enough, the goose is making the polar bear annoyed and grumpy like a lion, because the goose is asking too many questions while bear is reading, writing, and thinking. Goose goes to get a snack and writes a friendship letter. He comes back with the letter and reads it to bear who is overjoyed because the letter is so loving. In the end, they shared feelings and were happy. I would rate this book a five star book because you can really learn how to be a good friend!!!! Reviewed by: Amanda

In word and indeed

Finding a book as perfect in its simplicity as, "A Splendid Friend, Indeed" is near-impossible. I should know. As a children's librarian I often have to contest with countless anxious parents who want a picture book for their kids to read, with simple words, and a simple plot. But it has to be interesting too. And beautiful to look at. And touching, they definitely want something touching. All told there are perhaps four or five books in the English language that fit such strict criteria and remain readable. Now Suzanne Bloom's book may join their ranks. Though passed over for a Caldecott (a fact that had my fellow children's librarians wrenching out their hair in clumps) the book did garner a prestigious Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book Award. Just the same, I am of the opinion that "A Splendid Friend, Indeed" deserves a lot more press and fanfare. So here I am, blaring out the news for all to hear: COME ONE, COME ALL, TO WITNESS A PIECE OF PICTURE BOOK PERFECTION! I can't say it any plainer than that. A polar bear is reading a book when a white duck travels down his back for a chat. The duck is deeply inquisitive. He'd love to know exactly what the polar bear is up to. The dialogue is something along the lines of, "What are you doing? Are you reading? I like to read. Do you want to hear me read?". The bear grows increasingly frustrated with the encounter and annoyed with this relentlessly cheery pest. After a bit the duck comes back with a snack he has made and a note he has written. The note reads, "I like you. Indeed I do. You are my splendid friend". The polar bear is deeply touched by the note and by the end the two are hugging alongside the words, "You are my splendid friend. My splendid friend, indeed". Then they settle down to tea and cookies. The story is, on one level, a kind of take on sibling rivalry. Older siblings with overly enthusiastic young `uns tagging along will identify with the polar bear's longing to just be left alone by his number one fan. On another level, however, this is about dealing with someone who likes you almost too much. It's about handling people who let their emotions fly free of any and all inhibitions. At no point does the duck ever catch the polar bear's book-over-the-ears-type hints. Good thing too. When the bear stops to listen to the duck's letter he is strangely touched. What is so very remarkable about the book is for all its cuteness (and it is really very adorable) the book is not treacly or saccharine. This isn't "cute" in the way a Precious Moments figurine is cute. It's cute because it strikes a real emotional cord AND happens to be lovely to look at and read at the same time. The art is actually a draw in and of itself. The first image we have of the duck is of him walking down a white, furry hill of sorts. It is, of course, the polar bear's back and does nothing to improve his mood right off the bat. All the illustrations in this book have been done i

Friendship is a Many Splendored Thing

Suzanne Bloom delineates the contrasting personalities of her animal protagonists from the very first 2-page spread. There's a furry polar bear, comfortably stretched out on his belly, his eyes glued to his open book. And there's Goose, standing on Bear's head, his long neck curved upside down, and his eyes so close to Bear that he's truly in his face. He (or she, we really don't know) immediately asked the much larger animal, "What are you doing? Are you reading?" Goose sits in front of Bear's book, proclaiming, "I like to read," followed by more rapid-fire questions and announcements, as Goose seems oblivious to Bear's scowls, frustration, and annoyance. Goose combines the high activity and social graces of Daffy Duck, but with a much sweeter, more innocent quality. The big-webbed bird seems like a member of Free Associators' Anonymous as he leans into Bear-who is rolling his eyes--and asks, all innocent curiosity, "What are you doing now? Thinking? Thinking makes me hungry. Are you hungry? I think I'll go make a snack." Goose not only makes a snack, but also returns with a note he wrote for Bear (who is now hunched over in retreat, covering his eyes with his composition book): I like you. Indeed I do. You are my splendid friend. Bear returns the sentiment, and gives Goose a big ole' bear hug, and these two disparate personalities come together at last. Bloom's vivid yet soothing pastels reinforce Goose's soft-edged personality, and she conveys the two animals' moods with body language and the slightest shift in their eyes. Bloom deftly places two recognizable toddler temperaments in her two animals, and her very amusing narrative and pleasing pictures make this an extremely enjoyable tale.