Bing: Paint Day FROM THE PUBLISHER
Bing Bunny is a lovable, feisty preschool character created by Ted Dewan, who was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration. Bing Bunny tackles preschool challenges such as getting dressed, eating breakfast, and going to the park in his own charming style—and always with a sense of humor. In an exciting new illustration style for Dewan, Bing Bunny has a freshness and friendliness that is both appealing and different, and sure to be a hit with toddlers and preschoolers.
Bing: Paint Day is a celebration of color, paint, making pictures, and making a mess! Painting pictures—it's a Bing thing!
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Bing Bunny, a charming coal-black rabbit with fuzzy ears and big green eyes, suits up in these hand-size, paper-over-board books for beginners. In the first title, he gets helpful coaching from his stuffed rabbit toy, the appealingly named Flop, who has been sewn from woven orange cloth. In their pointed but amicable conversation, Flop takes the parent's role, despite his smaller size: "Can you put your shirt on all by yourself?" Bing pushes his arms through the sleeves of a green T-shirt: "Yup!/ Good for you Bing Bunny." This affirmative call-and-response repeats as Bing pulls on white underpants, red socks and shoes, forgetting that his pants legs won't fit over his black tennies. Once Bing solves this dilemma, another one emerges-a wet stain on his dungarees and a yellow puddle on the floor. "Don't worry Bing./ It's no big thing," says Flop. In the final spread, a jubilant Bing tosses off his outfit: "We'll just get dressed/ all over again!" Paint Day repeats this step-by-step structure as Bing proceeds through a rainbow of colors, painting an increasingly turbulent landscape. Flop cautions (in small, hushed letters), "Don't spill the water, Bing." After the inevitable splash, Flop again shrugs off the accident in his reassuring refrain ("It's no big thing"). Dewan (Crispin) illustrates the pair of picture books in warm hues, textured collages and full, rounded shapes. For all their simplicity, these easygoing books closely observe children's everyday activities and let readers know that ordinary mishaps are bound to occur. Ages 1-5. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Joan Kindig, Ph.D.
Bing is an energetic bunny who bounds out of bed each day ready to conquer the world. In this second book in the series, Bing is beginning to learn his colors and how to use them as paints. Bing learns that he will need paints, a brush, water, and an apron. As Bing adds each color to his big painting a refrain echoes across each double page spread, "Don't spill the water, Bing!" sure enough, Bing does spill the water and his beautiful painting will all those vibrant colors have turned into a muddy brown mess. Not to worry, though, because one color remains and it is his favorite color, orange! The story ends in the same manner as the first book. This time it says, "Paint day. It's a Bing thing." This series offers youngsters a predictable character much like themselves who tries out every day things as he explores the world. The simple yet bold art combines nicely with the rhyming text to create a delightful and engaging book for those toddlers beginning to explore their own worlds. 2004, David Fickling Books, Ages 1 to 5.
School Library Journal
PreS-Bing Bunny and little Flop engage in common toddler activities. Get Dressed is similar to Shigeo Watanabe's How Do I Put It On? (Philomel, 1980): "Can you put your shirt on all by yourself?" Bing responds with a "Yup!" to that and all of Flop's other questions. All dressed, Bing has an accident, depicted by a wet spot on the front of his overalls. Flop is reassuring ("It's no big thing") and even offers a solution: "We'll just get dressed all over again!" In the second title, Bing paints, with Flop in attendance: "Red makes a cozy house," "Yellow makes warm sunshine," "Pink and Purple make pretty flowers," etc. Although warned to be careful, Bing spills water on the picture, turning it a "yucky brown." Flop reminds the artist that his favorite color still remains, and Bing happily paints the entire page orange, forgetting the mishap. Illustrated with bold, computer-generated art, these small books will appeal to toddlers who will relate to a world in which everything can go wrong but come out right at the end.-Olga R. Kuharets, Broward County Libraries, Fort Lauderdale, FL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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