I am a huge fan of author and illustrator Stephen Michael King whose illustrations dance with joy and creativity. Stephen says that he loves to draw and dream and likes nothing better than when a small idea grows beyond his original imagining.
Stephen Michael King lives on an island and I love that he has added a few “Henry and Amy” wiggles and a bunch of squiggly “Milli” somethings to his house. You can find out more about Stephen HERE and the books he has created over 20 years HERE
Rainbow Bear is a playful story set in a white snowy world. When Bear returns from a trip to the city with gifts for his family, he wakes the next morning to find himself looking rather different. Who are the secret artists that decorate his furry canvas with colourful swirls and dots and lines and circles each night while he's asleep? When Bear finds a clue, he turns the tables on the little artists and they share a fun family day of colour and creativity before diving into the deep blue ocean, blowing bubbles and turning somersaults.
After reading the story, you might be tempted to colour in the black and white endpapers! Why do you think the endpapers are black and white? Did you also notice that the endpapers are different? Stephen has made his endpapers available for you to download so you can colour and scribble outside the lines for yourself! The front endpaper is HERE and the back endpaper is HERE.
Did you know Stephen Michael King often includes a little red bird in his picture books (you can see a picture of it on his website). I wonder if you can find his bird in Rainbow Bear…
"I love colouring outside the lines – and that made creating 'Rainbow Bear' a whole lot of fun." (Stephen Michael King)
Happy reading and creating!