I had totally forgotten about this month’s children’s book until I found it in my box of children’s books! When I saw it, I immediately remembered loving it as a kid, but I couldn’t remember what it was about. So yes, I sat down and read a children’s book the other day! I read Arthur’s Honey Bear! Let’s take a look at the details of this book.
Book Details
Title: Arthur’s Honey Bear
Author: Lillian Hoban
Illustrator: Lillian Hoban
Theme: Growing up, honoring agreements, and sharing.
Plot: Arthur decides it’s time to sell his toys and sets up a sale. But when his sister offers to buy the only toy he isn’t sure he wants to sell, he shows great character in his solution to the problem.
Page Count: 64 pages
Review
Arthur’s Honey Bear is a cute story about Arthur, a young chimpanzee, who decides to sell his toys. When he can’t make a sale, his little sister Violet offers to help but asks to buy the one toy Arthur is not sure he wants to sell. Arthur and his sister work things out in the cutest way possible. You will have to read it to find out what happens!
As I was reminded of what this story is about, I recalled loving this story so much growing up! I remember reading it as a kid and thinking of my own toys and siblings. I had to share a lot with my siblings growing up, so
I found this story to be very relatable. As an adult, I love the messages hidden in this book. First, Arthur shows that he is growing up by understanding that he can earn money by selling his toys. His ability to part with most of his things is an excellent example for children. One does not need to get rid of everything as we age, but it is a good idea to clean things out occasionally and get rid of things we don’t use. Violet’s desire to help her brother is a great example for little kids of how to help their siblings while encouraging responsibility. Arthur’s solution to his problem teaches children that honoring agreements is important and that sharing is a great way to solve problems. With all these little lessons packed into this adorable and relatable story, this book is an excellent read for kids!
While I thoroughly enjoyed Arthur’s Honey Bear, a few elements didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The grumpy friend who decided not to buy toys from Arthur could have been more understanding. In addition, Violet and Arthur experience a bit of tension when he tries to ensure she is caring for the toy correctly. Though it is very slight. Despite these minor hiccups, I still give this book a solid four and a half stars! But don’t just take my word for it! Let’s see what others think!
Family Reviews
Kate and Josiah
Kate gave this book four stars saying, “I thought it was funny that Arthur became the uncle because he missed the bear!”
Josiah “loved” this book, giving it a rating of five hearts. He said that his favorite part was “The chocolate ice cream cones” and when “Aurther and Violate ate their ice cream cones too.” He said this was his favorite part “because it’s yummy.”
Emily, James, Christine, and Peter
Emily gave this book three stars saying, “I thought it was great that Arthur bought ice cream for Violet, and that they shared honey bear’s ice cream” because “It was a nice example of generosity and sharing between siblings.”
Peter (5) seemed to agree that he wasn’t sure how he felt about this book, giving it three hearts. But his favorite part was “…when Violet bought honey bear.”
Christine (6) didn’t like the book due to some “mean stuff” and James (8) found it better suited for a younger audience.
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