On All Fours
Published on 27. February 2025
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-59270-388-3 (ISBN)
Description
A bear cub sets out to discover the world-with a little encouragement from a nearby parent-in this charming picture book from the author-illustrator of New York Times Best Illustrated Book Bear Despair
The best way to explore the world is on all fours! With its four little paws, a curious bear cub dances across pebbles, feels the tickling grass, splishes and splashes in puddles. So delightful are the curious cub's encounters that even prickly weeds or a little tumble are just part of the fun!
From sensory experience to sensory experience, the bear cub goes on a journey of discovery and surprise that leads it far away from where it started. Perhaps even too far away? Help!! But the moment of panic is soon resolved when the cub is lifted up by two loving arms into a big hug from a parent.
?From acclaimed author-illustrator Gaetan Doremus, a charming, brightly colored picture book about exploration, play, budding independence, and security.
The best way to explore the world is on all fours! With its four little paws, a curious bear cub dances across pebbles, feels the tickling grass, splishes and splashes in puddles. So delightful are the curious cub's encounters that even prickly weeds or a little tumble are just part of the fun!
From sensory experience to sensory experience, the bear cub goes on a journey of discovery and surprise that leads it far away from where it started. Perhaps even too far away? Help!! But the moment of panic is soon resolved when the cub is lifted up by two loving arms into a big hug from a parent.
?From acclaimed author-illustrator Gaetan Doremus, a charming, brightly colored picture book about exploration, play, budding independence, and security.
Reviews / Votes
STARRED REVIEW! ? "A toddler bear takes a tactile journey in this translation of a French title... The compositions provide a rich aesthetic experience with gorgeous multihued backgrounds that change to reflect the mood and the little one's body language. The scenes brim with delightful details, such as a crimson spider that reacts to each situation... Doremus' luscious, emotive illustrations will inspire frequent readings. The spare, repetitive narration lends itself well to memorization; be prepared for little ones to shout out their favorite lines. Youngsters will relish the ride from exploration to reunion." * Kirkus Reviews * One of 100 Scope Notes's New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books 2025 Predictions! "Doremus previously appeared on the NYT Best Illustrated list with his 2012 book Bear Despair. Here he takes his layered pencil style to new heights, creating pictures that practically shimmer." -- Travis Jonker * 100 Scope Notes (A School Library Journal) * "Ideal for a story-time... Be sure to check out these beautiful bright colors." -- Betsy Bird * A Fuse #8 Production (A School Library Journal blog) * "Throughout a lively picture book, Doremus captures simple miracles of moving the body and exploring the world. Observational text-'On all fours, here I am on Earth'-accompanies saturated spreads of an ambling blue bear cub... Texturally rich spreads attend to splashing water, sloppy mud, and slippery slides as the cub meets the small mishaps that befall new navigators. Masses of color, fine lines, and comforting words capture an era of young life when commonplace experiences are new." * Publishers Weekly *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Kindergarten, Interest Age: From 3 to 5 years
Illustrations
Color illustrations throughout
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 195 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
304 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-59270-388-3 (9781592703883)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Born in 1971, Gaetan Doremus received his degree from the School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg, France. Once out in the world, he picked up a few other degrees while creating picture books and illustrations for the press. Doremus has illustrated more than 25 books and has produced hundreds of editorial illustrations and cartoons. He loves bicycle riding, walking in the mountains, eating green tomatoes with cinnamon, and being a papa. Doremus's Bear Despair was a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2012. Growing up in a French-Chinese American family, Emilie Robert Wong attended school in the French national education system before studying comparative literature and neuroscience at Harvard College. She is an associate editor at Enchanted Lion, as well as the co-translator, with Karin Snelson, of You Can't Kill Snow White (shortlisted for the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative's Translated YA Book Prize) and At the Drop of a Cat (a Kirkus Best Book of 2023 and a NYPL Best Children's Book of 2023).