Me and Mister P.

November 1, 2017

Gr 2-5-A suitcase-carrying polar bear arrives on Arthur's doorstep during a moment of anger that his little brother's problems are taking precedence over his, giving Arthur a new focus and eventually teaching him greater acceptance of his role as a big brother. While never directly stated, little brother Liam displays several attributes of autism. The family, who are white and live in the suburbs, take the enormous fish-guzzling animal in stride, and the bear, in turn, provides comic relief at school and on the soccer field. Nearly every page contains whimsical illustrations, font changes for emphasis on various words, or a faux-handwritten diary entry. Some chapters are much longer than others, but each is well-formed around a single, distinct scene. Warm and silly, this is vaguely reminiscent of Michael Bond's "Paddington Bear" books. Some readers will struggle with the very premise of a polar bear-a dangerous and endangered Arctic species-behaving happily and rather doglike among humans in suburbia. But readers who can willingly suspend disbelief and roll with it will find a charming story. VERDICT A light, engaging read for younger elementary school readers.-Rhona Campbell, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2017
Arthur struggles to deal with his seemingly on-the-spectrum younger brother, Liam--until a friendly polar bear, Mister P., arrives to help.Liam melts down in difficult situations, leaving Arthur feeling self-conscious and embarrassed. His parents' somewhat heavy-handed and not especially sensitive management of Arthur's issues has left him bitter and sad. He's in the middle of running away from home when he encounters Mister P. Although some adults are initially nonplussed to find a giant bear in their midst, they adjust very easily. Mister P. has little trouble helping Arthur accept Liam's differences and get over his resentment, and as an added bonus, he also helps Liam cope better. As seen entirely from Arthur's point of view, Liam and his parents are only superficially sketched, providing little insight into their thoughts and actions. Rieley's numerous half- and full-page illustrations are a hilarious accompaniment to a tale that for the most part doesn't take itself too seriously, even though it borders on the didactic at times. Some of the text occasionally cascades artfully down the pages, providing another amusing element to this early chapter book. Arthur and his family are depicted as white, and his teacher and best friend are illustrated as black.Useful as bibliotherapy for siblings and classmates of children with autism, this effort also crosses over to readers who enjoy fantastical animal tales. (Fantasy. 7-10)

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July 1, 2018
A clever layout and engaging illustrations invite readers into Arthur's world, where his autistic brother's needs and unpredictability make Arthur feel nearly invisible. An enormous polar bear named Mr. P. turns up at his door to help Arthur learn patience and understanding--and is a lot of fun to boot. A sweet story likely to start always-welcome conversations about differences and acceptance.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)