Ross Collins hits the sweet spot of picture books with a story of clever rhymes starring a disgruntled little rodent and a huge squatter of a polar bear who has, sadly enough, taken over Mouse’s chair.
In a brilliant blend of text and endearing drawings, There’s a Bear on My Chair introduces Mouse, a sweater-sporting little guy who longs to sit in his customary spot. Although he admires some of Bear’s qualities—such as his stylish hair and his “fine taste in leisure wear”—Mouse simply cannot support Bear’s taking over his chair. Something must be done. Despite Mouse’s best efforts to lure Bear from his chair, nothing works. He tempts him with a golden pear, jumps out of a box in his underwear and finally loses his temper—all to no avail. Bear stays put.
Only when Mouse gives up and leaves the premises does Bear take notice. He lumbers off the chair and travels far along a snowy peak to his igloo home. There he finds someone (guess who?) snoozing on his bed.
The winning personalities of the two creatures and Mouse’s determination to regain his favorite chair will have little ones begging to hear this laugh-out-loud romp over and over again.
Billie B. Little is the Founding Director of Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, a hands-on museum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
