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The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) | 
 enlarge | Creator: Gregory Rogers
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $1.05
You Save: $15.90 (94%)
New (41) Used (27) Collectible (1) from $0.69
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 906704
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Pages: 32
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 12.1 x 9.1 x 0.4
ISBN: 1596430095
EAN: 9781596430099
ASIN: 1596430095
Publication Date: October 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: SHIPS TODAY!! BRAND NEW BOOK
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Product Description
A comic romp through Shakespeare's London featuring an intrepid little boy, a friendly bear, and-in the role of dastardly villain-the Bard himself.
What happens when a boy bursts through the curtain of a deserted theatre and onto the world's most famous stage? He lands on the Bard himself and the chase is on-through the streets of Shakespeare's London. This is a rare and inventive visual feast-a runaway story about a curious boy, a magic cloak, a grumpy bard, a captive bear and a baron bound for the chopping block. It is also a richly illustrated, dramatic and very funny tale of adventure and friendship.
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| Customer Reviews:
 A delightful read, thoughtfully packed for shipment November 14, 2008
Itai (Tel-Aviv, Israel)
I purchased the book from Amazon about a month ago, after reading E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird"'s review on this page. The book arrived today, sooner than expected (i live in Israel). This slim paperback came inside a huge cardboard box. Most of the box's volume was taken up by a snake-shaped air-stuffed nylon bag, which had kept the book from jolting about during the trip. The book was fastened to a firm cardboard rectangle, slightly larger than it, to guard the book against folding and to keep its rims safe from friction against the box's sides. The book arrived in excellent condition. I thank Amazon for this thoughtful packing.
As for the book - it's a delight to read. I've nothing to add to Ramsseelbird's review. I've given it only 4 stars, because it isn't particularly memorable. It doesn't offer any deep insight (as does Banyay's "Zoom", for instance), nor any profound emotional experience, nor does it have an out-of-the-ordinary design.
Little known fact: Shakespeare was the Terminator March 13, 2005
E. R. Bird (Manhattan, NY)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The wordless picture book is an artform in and of itself. Whether you're reading Emily McCully's charming, "Picnic", Anno's endlessly fascinating, "Anno's Journey", or even Jeannie Baker's knock-your-socks-off, "Home", the world of silent books for children is as variegated as it is fascinating. And now we have the newest addition to the genre. Author/illustrator Gregory Rogers has created a fine frolicksome foray into the world of Shakespearean plays, dancing bears, and the Tower of London itself. "The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard" may not be ideal storytime fare for large groups of children, but in terms of one-on-one encounters it stands above the rest.
A boy is playing soccer in London when his ball is knocked accidentally into a large abandoned theater. Exploring further, the boy enjoys playing amongst the set pieces, trying on the costumes, and pretending to star in his own show. But when a careless kick to the ball forces the boy to run between the curtains at exactly 4 o' clock (the time that all of Shakespeare's plays were performed) he suddenly finds himself 400 some years in the past with a full house staring back at him. Incensed, a livid bard begins to chase the boy in revenge for destroying his play. The kid escapes, and in his adventures of old Londontown he manages to free a chained bear, rescue a baron who's head is bound for the chopping block, and meet Elizabeth I herself. It makes for a thrilling story of escape, friendship, and jolly good adventuring.
First of all, I just want to say that I love the concept of Shakespeare being a villain of Terminatoresque proportions. About the time the bard, who has presumably swam several miles out to meet Queen Elizabeth's barge, pulls himself out of the water and makes a lunge for the boy, that was the moment I really loved the book. Is there anything more terrifying than an angry Shakespeare? I think not. Kids reading this book will get a great introduction into the world of Elizabethean drama and living. From the Tower of London's ravens to the houses and shops that used to stand along London Bridge, the book is an excellent encapsulation of an earlier time. You grow to love the bear and fear the bard. Of the baron, there isn't much to say.
So for a great wordless picture book that gives a brief history lesson amongst cartoon-like illustrations, this one can't be beat. Consider it a fine addition for your own little budding Shakespeare scholar.
 Brilliant February 8, 2005
Camille (Katy, TX)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book is absolutely brilliant! It is a wordless book that will pick you up and carry you through the story. The boy kicks his soccer ball through the window of a boarded up old theater. After retrieving his ball he discovers a box of costumes which he tries on and tries out on the theater stage. Something happens and suddenly he is on the stage of a theater (the Globe?) and William Shakespeare is tripping on his soccer ball. The chase is on through old London. The boy liberates a bear from a cage, a baron from the Tower of London, and dances with Queen Elizabeth I on a barge on the Thames, all while being pursued by a cranky Shakespeare. The drawings are detailed and change perspective. One moment you are running through the streets of London with the boy and the next you have a view of him and the city from high above. When the story ended, I felt like I too had dropped out of time, quite a feat for a picture book.
A humorous and amazing story February 3, 2005
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard is a picturebook that presents its humorous and amazing story entirely in sequential, comic-book style illustrations. A young boy playing by himself in an old theater accidentally discovers a way to travel to the distant past - and the time of Shakespeare! Accidentally inciting the Bard's wrath, he flees, liberates a captive bear, rescues a timid baron from the tower of London, all the while evading William Shakespeare's furious pursuit. The whimsical color pictures perfectly relate this chuckle-inducing story all the way to the wistful end.
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