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Title details for Brother Hugo and the Bear by Katy Beebe - Available

Brother Hugo and the Bear

by Katy Beebe
Gildart Jackson
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
Brother Hugo can't return his library book - the letters of St. Augustine - because, it turns out, the precious book has been devoured by a bear! Instructed by the abbot to borrow another monastery's copy and create a replacement, the hapless monk painstakingly crafts a new book, copying it letter by letter and line by line. But when he sets off to return the borrowed copy, he finds himself trailed by his hungry new friend. Once a bear has a taste of letters, it appears, he's rarely satisfied!

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    August 25, 2015

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781666587005
      • File size: 5069 KB
      • Duration: 00:10:33

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 1000
    • Text Difficulty: 5-7

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Gildart Jackson's narration is full of an old-fashioned regal lilt as befits a tale set in the twelfth century in the world of monasteries, hand-copied manuscripts, and wild creatures outside the walls. Brother Hugo is mortified that a bear has eaten his library copy of the letters of St. Augustine. As he sets out to re-create the manuscript, aided by fellow monks, listeners learn about the bookmaking process from sheepskin to final clasps. Jackson adds a gentle authority as the abbot and the prior, the latter of whom reminds Brother Hugo, "Books are food for the souls of men, not bears." Listeners will catch bemusement in Jackson's voice as he delivers the constant stomach grumbling and lip smacking that torments the monastery all Lent long. Light background music augments the period setting. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2016 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 17, 2014
      “It befell that on the first day of Lent, Brother Hugo could not return his library book.” In a medieval twist on the homework-eating dog, Brother Hugo confesses to his abbot that a bear has eaten his borrowed copy of St. Augustine’s letters. The abbot instructs Brother Hugo to retrieve a copy of the book from a neighboring monastery and create a new version—hand-written, illuminated, and bound. This process forms the heart of debut author Beebe’s how-it’s-done story as Hugo’s fellow monks aid in his efforts. The capital letters of each paragraph are meticulously illuminated in ink and wash by Schindler (Spike and Ike Take a Hike) with small vignettes and ornaments. Beebe’s period prose is believable and at times funny (Brother Hugo “knew that once a bear has a taste of letters, his love of books grows much the more”), and Schindler’s Bruegelesque landscapes deepen the medieval atmosphere. Depending on readers’ temperaments, they’ll either laugh or despair at the ending, in which all of Hugo’s hard work comes to naught. Ages 5–9.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:1000
  • Text Difficulty:5-7

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