Ninja Cowboy Bear Presents the Way of the Ninja

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The creators of The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear return with a high-energy story about friendship. This time, the daring ninja learns that the greatest thrills and the best adventures are the ones we share. The ninja's playtime games are too rough-and-tumble for his friends the cowboy and the bear. The ninja isn't interested in his friends' games -- and playing all by himself isn't much fun. Can the rambunctious ninja ever meet his friends halfway? Children will easily relate to the lesson about mutual respect embedded in a story about three different but nonetheless close friends.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-This book, which revisits the characters introduced in The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear (Kids Can, 2009), focuses on one friend who loves "thrills and adventure." The cowboy prefers to paint and the bear wants to pick flowers, but the ninja convinces them to jump on beds and climb trees. Predictably, this leads to injuries for everyone except the ninja, and he is left to play alone. He soon realizes that even hyperkinetic activity is no fun without the company of friends, and a happy ending ensues. Bruins sometimes uses vocabulary that's out of sync with young children, for example: "When they got together it usually led to merrymaking, buffoonery, and hilarity"; "The ninja thought the bear was overreacting." The story is message-driven and prosaically told, and the characters have traits rather than personalities. Leung's computer-art illustrations are reminiscent of video games and anime, and they are sure to appeal to young videophiles. An additional purchase where books on the meaning of friendship are needed.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book Review

In this follow-up to The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear, Ninja gets annoyed when neither Cowboy nor Bear wants to play his "thrills and adventure" games. He eventually realizes that playing alone is worse than compromising, "and the three friends had more fun than ever." The story's anime-inspired digital art conveys more warmth than the rather bloodless prose. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Ninja! Cowboy! Bear! Three great friends who have a great time together. Usually their time together leads to "merrymaking, buffoonery and hilarity." But Ninja's more of a daredevil than the others. When Cowboy suggests painting, Ninja would rather "shoot for the stars" by jumping on the bed. Cowboy bonks his noggin; no fun there! Ninja moves on to Bear, who suggests they pick flowers. Ninja would rather have a "fun flying experience" climbing the trees; Bear falls and gets a beehive stuck on his head; no fun for Bear! Ninja decides to play at derring-do alone...but soon discovers something's missing--namely, his best friends. Thank goodness they still want to play! Canadian computer programmer Bruins and equally Canadian graphic artist Leung collaborate on a fine sequel starring these unconventional buddies. The digitally created illustrations are one part Power Puff Girls and one part Eric Carle. The simple message of the plusses of cooperative play will be embraced by audiences who are likely still playing the hand game featured in the first adventure. (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.