Parents' Guide to

Dog and Bear: Two's Company

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Three quick, cute tales ideal for young readers.

Book Laura Vaccaro Seeger Picture Book 2008
Dog and Bear: Two's Company Poster Image

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What's the Story?

Three short stories ("Ice Cream," "Happy Birthday, Bear!" and "Sweet Dreams") reveal the ups and downs of the friendship between a dachshund named Dog and a Teddy bear named Bear, and show just what makes it so special.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

While Dog is more boisterous and emotional, Bear is quieter, wiser, and a bit more parental; together they make a great team and have the kind of friendship most of us admire. When Dog threatens to run away because he is angry, Bear stands aside, even offering his help in a quiet, non-judgmental way. That is, until the very last moment, when he offers ice cream, which as most of us know can be a great healer of hurt feelings.

This, and both of the other two stories in DOG AND BEAR: TWO'S COMPANY, are told in language that is lively when read aloud yet easy enough for a beginning reader to tackle. With their thick black outlines and gold-toned primary colors, the illustrations are appealing, and charming in their warm simplicity. The first book in this series, Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories, won the 2007 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Most of Laura Vaccaro Seeger's other books also have won various awards. She has also created award-winning TV animation, and it's easy to see that her background in graphic design has influenced her work in a very positive way.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Dog and Bear's friendship, and the issues between them. Why do you think Dog wanted to run away? Have you ever felt angry enough to pack and leave home? Why didn't Bear argue with Dog? Why did he wait awhile to offer the ice cream? How did that help? What happened when Dog tried to celebrate Bear's birthday? Bear still seems happy in the end. How come? What would you have felt if you were Dog? or Bear? How can you tell that Dog and Bear are friends? What kinds of things do they do for each other?

Book Details

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