Product Description

In the middle of a wintry night, deep in the forest, Urso Brunov hears a cry for help carried over the cold winds. Wolves are on the prowl and two young polar bears are lost in the forest. Though he may be the size of a thumb, who is Urso Brunov if he is not the Little Father of All Bears? Traversing snow-laden forests on the backs of stags and crossing wide seas atop a whale, this tiny yet brave hero returns the two lost polar bear cubs to the Land of Rainbow Lights—and is treated to a grand celebration in the land of ice before returning home in a wondrous moonlit flight on the back of a goose.

In the age-old tradition of tall tales, Redwall author Brian Jacques shows us storytelling at its finest in this spirited adventure.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #706006 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 48 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 1–3—Urso Brunov, the "Little Father of All Bears," is "mighty in battle/strong as an elephant/fierce as a lion/and wise as the wisest old owl of the forests." Tiny in stature but formidable in spirit, he and his bugle are called by the Silvery Moon Lady and led by Old Uncle Wind to aid two missing polar bears, threatened by ravenous wolves. Using his instrument to separate these attackers, Brunov promises to protect the royal bear siblings by guiding them home to the Land of Rainbow Lights. Relying on his friends, the boars, the deer, and the king of the whales, the lost bears safely return to their magical ice palace. Meeting their leader, the White Emperor Balanco, Brunov is rewarded with festivities. This fanciful sequel to The Tale of Urso Brunov (Philomel, 2003) features nondescript watercolor illustrations, though they are enhanced by cool colors, capturing the icy setting. Descriptive language develops Brunov's character; however, the lengthy narrative, featuring numerous brief appearances by minor characters, may prevent this selection from reaching a wide audience.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Brian Jacques lives in Liverpool, England.

Alexi Natchev lives in Newark, Delaware.

Customer Reviews

3 1/2 if I could...
Jacques does it again, almost.
The first Urso adventure was such a hit in our home, the kids asked for it over and over and even the parents around here could not help but recite the wonderful rhymes and adventure bits '... for I am Urso Brunov!'
The White Emperor is just as fanciful and Urso just as big as a bear the size of your thumb can be, but... and I am yet unclear exactly what the but it, but its seems as if a piece of magic or heart is not quite conveyed to make us all want to read it every night again and again and recite the details over and over.
Do not take that to mean however, that we read it once and put it away... on the contrary, it seems to be a creeper of sorts making the bedtime list first every ten days to once a week to now every three or four days.
If you are an Urso fan, by all means grab this one up. If you are purchasing an Urso tale for the first time, go with the original first.
And lets all intend Brian Jacques keeps adding on to this Bears's memoirs!

Recommended for young picturebook readers with good reading skills
Alexi Natchev provides vivid and powerful drawings to accompany the fantasy Urso Brunov and the White Emperor, recommended for young picturebook readers with good reading skills, or parental assistance. Urso Brunov hears a cry for help in the middle of winter, and sets out to help - for even though he's the size of a thumb, he's the Little Father of All Bears. His heroic attitude will carry him through a dangerous mission to return the two lost polar bear cubs to the Land of Rainbow Lights in this vivid story.