Title: Bernice Gets Carried Away
Author/Illustrator: Hannah Harrison
Age Group: 2-5
Synopsis: Bernice is really getting the short end of the stick at this birthday party, but when she fights to get an equal share she’ll learn a valuable lesson about sharing.
The Lowdown:
We’ve all had those days when nothing is going right. Things that are normally not an issue all of a sudden become these bigger problems. I like to call it snowballing. I tend to do this. A whole bunch of little things bug me and then they build up, until something just tips it over the edge and I’m suddenly monstrous rotating ball fury. I work hard to diffuse it now. If something small is bugging me, I say something or am better now at actually letting it go. A big piece of this is letting go of a defensive tendency I had. I haven’t snowballed in awhile but it’s always kinda just sitting there. Waiting. I have to be vigilant. And so when Bernice flipped out in this book I wanted to jump up and say: “Yes! Me too! I’ve been there!” I got your back Bernice.
The birthday party Bernice is attending, looks fabulous: rosebud cake, fruit sodas, a piñata, balloons. Someone went to a lot of effort. Bernice, however, isn’t reaping any of the benefits. She gets the only piece of cake without a rosebud, the only prune-grapefruit soda, doesn’t even get to hit the piñata and only gets a squashed gumdrop from the resulting candy drop. So it’s hard to really blame her that when the balloons come out, she jumps and grabs them all. There just happen to be way too many for such a little cat and she begins to ascend quite quickly. However, it’s from this vantage point that Bernice notices how small her problems really are. And she begins to notice those around her. As she shares the balloons, first with a thunder cloud, then a bird and a squirrel, she descends and becomes increasingly happier. By the time she reaches the ground and shares with the other party-goers, the day has brightened. Her actions inspire the others to recognize the needs of those around them and everyone ends the day happy.
Harrison masterfully depicts this unfolding tale with an array of emotions that breathe life into the pages. Bernice’s faces as she goes through the emotional changes in the book are spot on, making the reader sigh and empathize with the small cat. Additionally environmental cues allow younger readers to more easily interpret that emotions that the characters are experiencing. A cloudy day that breaks into sunshiny perfection and colors that lighten and brighten as the story progresses. It would be a shame not to mention how just ridiculously adorable all the characters are too. However, my favorite pieces are always the side-details that tend to pop-up later on and reveal sub-stories within the book. One such piece is the bird who is featured later on. If you’re paying attention you can notice her children leaving the nest (literally) at the beginning of the story, which explains her somber emotion later on. I love bits like this because it allows the reader to feel like they’re privy to the illustrators secret.
Wholly examined Bernice Gets Carried Away is a great look at the barrage of feelings that can sometimes take over us and the importance of being aware of others’ feelings. It is a great springboard for a discussion about either our own feelings, those of others, or even just sharing (which is such a difficult concept for little ones to grasp). It’s beautifully done and leaves the reader with such an optimistic view that it’s hard not to close the book smiling.
Story Tips:
- Talk about Bernice’s feelings as you go but allow your little one to try and explain how she’s feeling. Help with observations.
- Look for the bird and squirrel ahead of time. It’s a fun for little ones to feel like they’ve found a book secret.
I need more!
Hannah Harrison has three books of which she is the author/illustrator, the other two being: My Friend Maggie and Extraordinary Jane. We haven’t read either but are excited to check them out soon. For more information go to her website: http://www.hannaheharrison.com
