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May 10, 2007
Every Girl Really Wants a Bad Bear
Ever since I read Daniel Pinkwater’s funny, funny picture book Irving and Muktuk: Two Bad Bears a few years back, I’ve been wondering why more people aren’t reading and talking about this series (all illustrated by Jill Pinkwater). In the first book, muffin-stealing polar bears Irving and Muktuk cause enough trouble at consecutive annual Yellowtooth Blueberry Muffin Festivals that they’re finally shipped out of town to a zoo in Bayonne, New Jersey. In the second book, Bad Bears in the Big City, Irving and Muktuk are introduced to an extremely well-behaved and independent polar bear named Roy who, much to the other bears’ envy, has his own apartment and, better yet, refrigerator – luxuries Irving and Muktuk aren’t allowed since, as they quickly prove, “They are not to be trusted.” In the next book, Bad Bears and a Bunny, the arctic duo meets a rabbit that seems to be the only creature with the ability to frighten them into good behavior. In Bad Bear Detectives, Irving and Muktuk deal with being (supposedly) falsely accused of wrong-doing.
All of which brings us to the most recent book in the series, Bad Bears Go Visiting.
Throughout his work, Pinkwater is a master of understatement and dry humor. He writes in an expository style, almost like he’s writing nonfiction, but instead of, say, relating the typical diet of polar bears in the wild, he presents Roy talking about his freezer filled with muffins and fish cakes or Irving and Muktuk worriedly whispering about the inexplicably violent bunny. In Bad Bears Go Visiting, Roy’s cousin Larry pays Irving and Muktuk a visit. Our protagonists are so taken with the idea of visiting that they subsequently decide to drop in on a random family in town. The ensuing scene shows off all of Pinkwater’s best skills. On the surface, everyone is polite, but when the mother of the family asks daughter, Sylvia, to go in the kitchen to get refreshments for their guests, she says, “While you are in the kitchen, you might want to make a telephone call.” To which Sylvia replies, “I understand.” There’s a lot going unsaid throughout the scene, and it's not much of a surprise when the police show up to escort the bears back to the zoo.
Maybe you’re one of those people who read The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and thought, “Huh?” If so, these probably aren’t the books for you. But how could you not love The Hoboken Chicken Emergency? How could you not love Irving and Muktuk?
Thankfully, you don't have to just take my word for it:
Just One More Book talked about Irving and Muktuk in their January 10th episode, and Mark spoke with Pinkwater for The Edge of the Forest’s March issue.
Three Silly Chicks reviewed Bad Bears Go Visiting on April 16. (Way to be ahead of the curve, Chicks! And, OMG, BEST. BANNER. EVER.)
Posted by adrienne at May 10, 2007 11:54 AM
Comments
Thanks so much for the shout out for JOMB!
We agree completely, why are Irving and Muktuk not getting the attention (and muffins) they deserve?
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea - Just One More Book! Podcast at May 10, 2007 12:12 PM
I have loved Daniel Pinkwater ever since my son got hooked on Three Big Hogs about 20 years ago. I think the Tooth-Gnasher Superflash is still one of my faves.
Posted by: wplmom at May 10, 2007 01:02 PM
Just saw this. I reviewed it the other day, too (here: http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=621). Good stuff, and, yes, they deserve more attention. They make me laugh.
Posted by: jules at May 11, 2007 03:39 PM
Looks like we reviewed it on the same day, by the way. This is the second time this week I've done that (and in the same post). I'm puh-sychic. I'm going to addend that post and add your review, too.
Posted by: jules at May 11, 2007 04:15 PM
Yes, I was just over there commenting. I love the look of Thank You Bear, and I also love how the comments have turned to The Colbert Report, as well they should. :)
Posted by: adrienne at May 11, 2007 04:26 PM
"puh-sychic" makes me smile. I'm spelling it that way from now on.
Posted by: chuck at May 11, 2007 05:00 PM
I remember the day I discovered the Larry books -- my daughters had to peel me off the floor I was laughing so hard. Utterly dissolved, was I....
Posted by: Liz Garton Scanlon at May 13, 2007 12:14 AM