Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?
with illustrator Bruce Degen

"We often called our son 'Jesse Bear,' and the book began as a little song I sang while dressing him.

"I received the call from an editor for this, my first accepted manuscript, on the day we were celebrating our son Jesse’s second birthday. After hanging up the phone I jumped really high in the air, greatly surprising my visiting mother-in-law." -- Nancy

The story
What does a little bear wear while he romps through a bright and sunny day? In the morning, his pants that dance, and the sun on his legs that run. At lunchtime, celery crunch and sprouts in a bunch, and juice from a pear and rice in his hair. And at night, his pjs with feet and face on the seat, and sleep in his eyes and stars in the skies, as he dreams of the fun he'll have tomorrow.

Reviews
“...the rhymes, besides having a charming lilt to them, are clean and catchy and beg to be recited.” School Library Journal

“...without crossing the line into sentimentality, this offers a happy, humorous soundfest that will associate reading aloud with a sense of play.” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Awards
A Booklist Editors' Choice
Children’s Choice,
International Reading Association/Children’s Book Council

Lesson plans for K-4:
Trait writing

Books by Nancy White Carlstrom at publisher's site, SimonSaysKids

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