Itching Books

This is a very cute story about the virtues of bathing, as seen through the eyes of a bear who has a distinct lack of personal hygiene skills.

Just looking at the cover, the comparisons with Eric Carle's style will be inevitable (something that the publishers seem to have intended, considering the layout).

The story is simple, but clever. Big Smelly Bear never bathes. The only creatures who want to come near him are flies. The other forest animals all ran to get away from his stink.

But when Big Smelly Bear needs a friend to scratch an itch that he can't reach, he might finally have to take that dreaded bath. He may even find that his friendship with Big Fluffy Bear is worth the trouble of an occasional dunking in the river.

Kids will giggle over the title and the main character, and the book gives some good positive reinforcement about baths, as well as some lessons in friendship. The illustrations are colorful and fun, and the book is a good length for a quick bedtime story with big legible print for youngsters to follow along.

This is a great book! We have to read this book every night before we go to bed. My two-year-old can recite most every page (and does this all day!). Have fun!

This is an excellent book which teaches children that others in society will act and think of them differently if they don't clean themselves up, wash their clothes and the like. Illustrates to children the benefits and interaction from their friends (and even the opposite gender but this will be over the head of younger readers) won't happen with poor hygiene as they'll want to keep their distance or avoid you is brilliantly portrayed through the two main characters (bears).

Illustrations are more in the style of softer cartoon looking animals than more realistic looking style illustrations other illustrators of animals use, but I think it suits the story well. The basic plot is a bear doesn't really care that it smells and is known as Big Smelly Bear by the other animals. It refuses to bathe in the river and as its smell gets worse and worse its skin becomes itchy. It tries everything to get rid of the itch such as rubbing against a tree and using a stick to reach its back.

One day it notices a female bear in a tree. She tells him she is known as Fluffy Bear and he asks her to come down and scratch his itchy back. She tells him she will if he has a bath first which he refuses to even think about. Of course his desire for Fluffy Bear to scratch his back is starting to outweigh his desire to follow his non bathing stance!

A good book with a very simple storyline and a bit of repetition between the two main characters which kids of course love but those who are really adults and don't understand that kids read and take in messages from books differently may well find simply annoying. Big Smelly Bear is of course a kids' picture book so if you're just an adult who likes to read books with pictures you may want to choose something a bit more mentally challenging.

Christians are so incredibly comfortable! As long as we hear what we want to hear and don't have our values challenged, we are happy. For any non-Christians reading this, you may not understand what I am going to say. I understand that; after all, it takes as much faith for me to believe what I do as it does for you to believe what you do. However, there seems to be much in the churches of today that dilutes and distorts the message that Jesus brought with Him. What He taught us is the keystone of our Christian faith. The Bible is very specific and, while many arguments are made why this or why that in the Bible has no basis today, many of us simply believe that the Bible is the word of God and is from His infinite mind. We cannot adjust God's word to suit our circumstances.

Mr. Richard McBain brings to us his thoughts regarding what are quite emotionally packed and sometimes polarizing topics. He discusses the Bible as the final authority, abortion, the feminist movement, sexual sins, and the many denominations and cults present in America and the world. Business ethics (these don't exist without personal ethics) and morality as well as government and politics are topics, which he doesn't avoid. Thoughts on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, media evangelists, parenting and the concepts of Heaven and Hell are offered.

For sure, Christian absolutes have been diluted or removed as the basis of our society and have been replaced with a worldview.

Interestingly, much of what Mr. McBain has to say is directly opposite what many of us have heard preached. Paul had it right in 2 Timothy 4:3. People want their pastors to "scratch" their "itching ears" with words that keep with their desires to get along with the world. God told us not to add to or take away from His commands (Deuteronomy 12:32). Deuteronomy 4:2 says the same thing. The revelation that the Lord gives is sufficient. All of it must be obeyed, and anything that adulterates or contradicts it cannot be tolerated. Regardless of the stories upon which pastors might rely in order to promote personal agendas, any selfish efforts are not without consequences (see 2 Peter 2:3 and 2 Peter 1:16).

Tolerance is not the issue. After all, those who preach tolerance seem to be intolerant of anyone who disagrees with them and tolerance seems really to be intolerant of the absolutes of Christianity. They may even say that "there are no absolutes" and, when they do, they seem to be absolutely sure of that!

This book is not an "us versus them" treatise; it is a measured discussion of getting back to Christian basics and a return to Scriptural truth. It is my hope that Christians turn their backs on provincial cowardice and return to a passion for significance for what Jesus taught. Mr. McBain does just this. We are not talking self-righteousness here; Mr. McBain is simply discussing what is right. The world and many churches aren't shy about espousing their views. I wonder why Bible-believing Christians are so afraid and cautious in giving their basic beliefs the same thoughtful regard.

No one is attacking anyone here. I do, however, urge you to read this book and be prepared for realignment with God's word. An honest, objective, and calm discussion will benefit all of us. The socially acceptable philosophies permeating our society are simply Scripturally wrong. Have we complicated Scripture with self-serving interpretation and simultaneously simplified God? That is a question that also deserves discussion. Maybe we should look at Scripture and God in a diametrically different way.

Christians are so incredibly comfortable! As long as we hear what we want to hear and don't have our values challenged, we are happy. For any non-Christians reading this, you may not understand what I am going to say. I understand that; after all, it takes as much faith for me to believe what I do as it does for you to believe what you do. However, there seems to be much in the churches of today that dilutes and distorts the message that Jesus brought with Him. What He taught us is the keystone of our Christian faith. The Bible is very specific and, while many arguments are made why this or why that in the Bible has no basis today, many of us simply believe that the Bible is the word of God and is from His infinite mind. We cannot adjust God's word to suit our circumstances.

Mr. Richard McBain brings to us his thoughts regarding what are quite emotionally packed and sometimes polarizing topics. He discusses the Bible as the final authority, abortion, the feminist movement, sexual sins, and the many denominations and cults present in America and the world. Business ethics (these don't exist without personal ethics) and morality as well as government and politics are topics, which he doesn't avoid. Thoughts on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, media evangelists, parenting and the concepts of Heaven and Hell are offered.

For sure, Christian absolutes have been diluted or removed as the basis of our society and have been replaced with a worldview.

Interestingly, much of what Mr. McBain has to say is directly opposite what many of us have heard preached. Paul had it right in 2 Timothy 4:3. People want their pastors to "scratch" their "itching ears" with words that keep with their desires to get along with the world. God told us not to add to or take away from His commands (Deuteronomy 12:32). Deuteronomy 4:2 says the same thing. The revelation that the Lord gives is sufficient. All of it must be obeyed, and anything that adulterates or contradicts it cannot be tolerated. Regardless of the stories upon which pastors might rely in order to promote personal agendas, any selfish efforts are not without consequences (see 2 Peter 2:3 and 2 Peter 1:16).

Tolerance is not the issue. After all, those who preach tolerance seem to be intolerant of anyone who disagrees with them and tolerance seems really to be intolerant of the absolutes of Christianity. They may even say that "there are no absolutes" and, when they do, they seem to be absolutely sure of that!

This book is not an "us versus them" treatise; it is a measured discussion of getting back to Christian basics and a return to Scriptural truth. It is my hope that Christians turn their backs on provincial cowardice and return to a passion for significance for what Jesus taught. Mr. McBain does just this. We are not talking self-righteousness here; Mr. McBain is simply discussing what is right. The world and many churches aren't shy about espousing their views. I wonder why Bible-believing Christians are so afraid and cautious in giving their basic beliefs the same thoughtful regard.

No one is attacking anyone here. I do, however, urge you to read this book and be prepared for realignment with God's word. An honest, objective, and calm discussion will benefit all of us. The socially acceptable philosophies permeating our society are simply Scripturally wrong. Have we complicated Scripture with self-serving interpretation and simultaneously simplified God? That is a question that also deserves discussion. Maybe we should look at Scripture and God in a diametrically different way.

This book has very cute illustrations, but the story is awful. Shaggy dog asks for help for a horrible itch, and no one will help him without making sure he pays up first. Such a great lesson to teach kids - don't help anyone (even if they are in pain) unless they help you first. Then each person scratches him with various instruments - a shepherd's crook, a fork(?!) and a brush. I wonder how many poor dogs have had a child chase after them with a fork to "help" them after reading this book. I'd take this book to a used book store, but it's bad enough that I'll probably just throw it away. The other books I've received by this author are fine, but I stopped reading this one aloud to my daughter after the first couple of pages.

My 3 year old son received this book as a gift from his aunt who is also a preschool teacher. My son is now 4 years old, and still loves this book. It is often the bedtime story that he chooses. The illustrations are wonderful, and the text is enjoyable. Highly recommended.

My daughter loved this book---it's perfect for a preschooler. We borrowed it from the library and she was heartbroken when we had to bring it back. Definitely a cute read!

I chose this book because the funny title and cover illustration caught my attention. The book is hilarious throughout! Shaggy's got flea problems and can't seem to shake them no matter what he does. He gets by with a little help from his friends who agree to scratch his back - as long as Shaggy "pays" for the favor up front (like finding lost sheep who snicker and hide, or busting tons of suds in a diner). I made sure to point out that sneaky flea in the illustrations to my girls (ages 3.5 and 2). You may not need to do so with older readers. Readers of all ages will love the ending!