It began with a man who was first a carpenter. He taught his daughter everything he knew about carpentry, materials, and tools. She learned the proper way to hold a hammer so a nail would go in straight. She learned the best time to use needle nose pliers, slip joint pliers and tongue and groove pliers. She learned when to use certain kinds of screwdrivers and the appropriate kinds of screws for a variety of construction supplies.
This knowledge and the accompanying skills were invaluable when the daughter found herself helping to build her first home. Regardless of her prior knowledge and experience in building that home, in reading the newest book written and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III, Bear Builds A House (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, February 1, 2022), that daughter found herself comprehending the entire process on a deeper level. This companion title to Bear Goes Sugaring is certain to be invaluable to most readers, whether they decide to build their own home or wish to have a greater understanding of what to seek in a well-built residence.
Spring has arrived, and Bear is on the move . . .
She's been caring for a friend's house, but now it's time
to build one of her own. It will take thoughtful planning,
mountains of hard work, and a few good friends to get it
done before the snow falls again. And it all starts now!
One of the first things Bear does is select the perfect site to satisfy her. She needs to spend time there during all parts of the day and, if possible, during the seasons of a year. After the place is selected, Bear designs a site plan, deciding the placement of all the parts of her home, and where new portions might be placed in the future.
Bear cleverly plans the inside and outside of her home, drawing blueprints complete with elevations. Bear enlists the assistance of friends with specialized skills. She knows when help is needed in getting lumber from logs, in digging holes (excavating), and in placing the plumbing and electrical lines.
Next, trees are chosen and harvested. Boards are cut from the logs and then set aside to dry. Bear and Woodchuck work on digging and setting the piers for her home's foundation. (It is explained she could have a full foundation or a crawl space foundation instead.) Woodchuck and Bear continue to work in bringing water to the home from a nearby spring by digging and laying pipe. They don't forget to plan for an outhouse.
Finally, the dried lumber is used to frame the house. Each step in the framing is explained until the
''whetting bush''
is placed on the peak of the completed task. Each layer on the sides and roof are carefully placed, including the windows and siding. Thankfully they start on the interior as the weather is turning autumnal. Plumbing and fuel lines are installed. Hooray for Bobcat's expertise!
Raccoon has completed the necessary wiring for a
photovoltaic system.
The sun is to be the source of electrical energy. Inside, Bear places insulation between the studs, joists, and rafters. She uses tongue-and-groove boards (instead of drywall) to finish the walls. For the perfect look, trim board is placed along the bottom. Cabinets are hung. Appliances and the wood stove are delivered. As the first snow falls, everyone enjoys the warmth they helped Bear to make.
Not only does the text display author Maxwell Eaton III's knowledge, but we are also aware of his keen sense of humor through his word choices and character commentary. Bear's dog, a local squirrel, and a goose that elects to not fly south for the winter are hilarious. In addition to the main narrative, there are carefully labeled elements during each portion of the building process. Tools and supplies are presented and identified. Here is a passage and some commentary.
On a double-page picture there are seven labeled characters who are important to the building of Bear's house. Underneath their name it lists what they do. This text refers to the three characters on the right side along with the narrative.
They are happy to help because Bear has helped
her friends many times in the past and will
continue to do so in the future. That's the Better
Bear Bargain!
Do they just
let anyone write
these books? Bear's dog's comment
DOG
?
I'm a certified
tripping hazard.
SQUIRREL
Nuts
Hey, what
do you mean?
BEAR
Architect, Engineer,
Project Manager, Carpenter, Laborer
Are we
going to start building?
It's already
April! Goose's comment
Bear's job will be to focus on planning, staying organized,
communicating, coordinating, scheduling, and working
alongside her friends.
In looking at the open and matching dust jacket and book case, we can see Bear is just about finished with the framing of her home. Her comment is our first hint of the humor and wordplay used by Maxwell Eaton III. The image on the front continues over the spine to the back and far-left edge. The title text on the jacket is varnished.
On the back, to the left of the spine, Raccoon and Bobcat are carrying several pieces of lumber to the house. Six geese are flying in front of a cloud, heading south for the winter. On the far left a tall evergreen extends out of the frame. A single crow rests on one of its branches.
On the opening and closing endpapers is a bright sky blue. It is the same hue used in the banner holding Maxwell Eaton III's name on the jacket and case. On the title page Bear is carrying lumber to the building site. You can see stakes in the ground indicating where the house will be built. An owl is perched on a tree branch nearby. It's early spring with some snow still lingering on the ground.
The illustrations for this book were rendered
with watercolor and graphite pencil on 140lb. bright white cold press watercolor paper.
Each page turn reveals another double-page picture beginning with the verso and first page. Maxwell Eaton III has placed the publication text and dedication initials within the boughs of a giant evergreen on the left. On the right, Bear sits in her temporary housing as her dog sleeps on one of the cots. The squirrel asks for another hour of sleep from its hammock on the outside.
The visuals in this book can be vast displays of the mountainous terrain with smaller images embedded in the larger illustration for clarity. Or we might be close to the characters as they work on a special project. Sometimes, we are looking straight at the scene and other times we are looking from above the action. Maxwell Eaton III superbly uses panels for further explanation. We are privy to the best kind of visual information through details. The characters are highly animated.
One of my favorite illustrations is the final two-page picture, but I will let you enjoy every nuance yourselves. I cannot look at it without laughing. Another of my many favorite illustrations is when Bear is drawing up the site plan. Along the bottom of the image, Bear, on the left, is seated outside at her table with her tools close at paw. Her dog is standing next to her, head resting on her shoulder. One paw is on her shoulder and the other paw is on her head. On the right side of the table, the squirrel is asking about nut storage. Goose still in the pond has wing tips resting on the table. Goose thinks the plan looks good. This is when the decision to not fly south is made. The rest of the two-page picture is devoted to an enlargement of the site plan, providing a background for the characters. I love this presentation and design!
This book, Bear Builds A House written and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III, will find a wide audience of readers. The blend of text and images coupled with the humor is marvelous. You should plan on multiple copies as this is the kind of book that will be passed from reader to reader. At the close of the book is an author's note giving a nod to responsible use of resources. There is a list of three book titles for further reading. I highly recommend this title for both your personal and professional collections. I can already think of several people who will be receiving this title as a gift.
To learn more about Maxwell Eaton III and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website. Maxwell Eaton III has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. At the publisher's website are activity sheets you can download. At the publisher's Instagram account, Maxwell Eaton III reads this book aloud. At Penguin Random House, you can view the title page.
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