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Bear and Mole
Off We Go!: A Bear and Mole Story
In the third endearing Bear and Mole adventure, Bear helps his friend learn to ride a bike without training wheels. But even with Bear's support, Mole grows frustrated and wants to give up. Gentle Bear tells Mole, "I think you can," and Mole summons all his strength to make his first bike ride a success. Off he goes! This story is perfect for reading aloud.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Will Hillenbrand
88Ìýbooks98ÌýfollowersWill Hillenbrand is an American children's book author and illustrator who has worked on over seventy books for young people. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was influenced by the stories he heard in his father's barbershop growing up. After taking a class in picture-book art while in art school, he decided to pursue a career in children's literature, combining his love of storytelling with his love of illustration. He lives in Terrace Park, Ohio with his wife, Jane, and their son, Ian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 27, 2014
A quick read with with only 147 words and lots of fun onomatopoeia. Not much in terms of plot, but the short sentences, full of verbs is just right for the independent reader. OF WE GO is a simple story of Mole trying his bicycle without his training wheels for the first time. His goal is making it to the book mobile with the help of Bear. The fun begins with Mole's mishaps along the way.
This picture book is sure to elicit a few giggles.
This picture book is sure to elicit a few giggles.
November 4, 2020
So this book is unclear of what exactly it is trying to portray. Mole needs help fixing his bicycle because he is gonna ride it. Bear helps him do that and Mole begins to ride. Maybe the bicycle isn’t fixed properly because Mole can’t seem to stop it. So either that, or Mole just doesn’t know how to ride a bike, which brought me to my second assumption: maybe Mole was trying something new? Whatever the case was, Mole finally crashes and ends the story saying “I did it!�, which makes me assume that maybe he was conquering a fear? The story is unclear of what exactly the message is.
April 3, 2022
This is a great book. This book would be good as a bedtime story for a young kid who is learning to ride their bike. It shows the persistence of Mole and the friendship bear gives. IN the end, the persistence of mole pays off and they are able to celebrate. The illustrations in this book were also fantastic.
March 23, 2019
There are a lot of picture led predictions in this book.
July 21, 2019
Another cute Bear and Mole story! Mole taking off his training wheels is just so adorable!
July 21, 2019
The adorable adventures continue.
December 12, 2023
Bear is helping mole to learn to ride his bike on fall day. Preschool and up
May 12, 2024
It was okay. I find it odd that the bookmobile had a flag on it that said "today," and it was kind of an abrupt change of pace. But the book will be great for storytime.
June 27, 2024
Learning to ride a bike.
December 26, 2024
33 pages not 32
April 8, 2025
good for a bicycle storytime of a bookmobile storytime :)
February 2, 2023
This story is about a mole who is determined to ride his bike with no training wheels.I like that this book is teaching kids how to be encouraging to a friend and persistence in something they are struggling with. I also like that the book uses inferences and foreshadowing with the illustrations. The part that I did not like is the lack of descriptive words to help the children connect the parts of the story. I could use this book to help encourage children to keep trying even when something does not go their way.
July 19, 2013
Today is finally the day when Mole removes the training wheels from his bicycle and rides without them. But Mole crashes almost immediately and needs encouragement from Bear to go on. Once the determined Mole is up again and on his way, nothing better get in his way. He leaves a trail of startled animals before arriving right by the storymobile and just in time for a read aloud. The mixed media illustrations fit the account perfectly, reminding readers of their own first time on a bicycle without any assistance. The affection between Mole and Bear is obvious throughout every line.
October 26, 2013
Will Hillenbrand's illustrations are sure to delight readers of his new Bear and Mole Story: Off We Go! Bear helps a very wobbly Mole learn to ride his bike. There are lots of stops and starts, crashes and near misses. Hillenbrand inserts so much motion into his illustrations that it gives the story a sense of movement as if you are watching a movie. This is great book for story time. Pair it with Duck on a Bike by David Shannon for some fun.
July 21, 2014
Off We Go! A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand � Was curious about this book and wasn’t disappointed to realize it was a story about a little mole learning how to ride a bike without training wheels, quite a cute story. Reminded me of a recent Nerdy Book Club Book List post titled: Top Ten Books for Young Readers about Encountering Obstacles -
February 15, 2015
Toddlers and preschool children will enjoy riding along with mole on his harrowing bike trip to the bookmobile. The text is sparse but it works because the illustrations say so much! You can see the trepidation on mole’s face and the supportive yet slightly concerned look bear has while supporting his friend’s adventure on two wheels. This would make for a good read-aloud book with lots of opportunities to prompt children about the action through the illustrations. I recommend for purchase.
June 19, 2013
Bear and Mole go on another adventure with Mole learning hwo to ride a bike. As Mole tries his best and grows frustrated thinking he cannot do it, his friend Bear chimes in with "I think you can" and off Mole goes triumphant with a wodnerful surprise at the end. Hillenbrand's belightful illustrations pair nicely with the text and will inspire new bike riders everywhere. Reviewer 17
July 23, 2013
Little Mole is taking the training wheels off his bike. Initial failure brings on despair, but with Bear's encouragement he keeps trying and soon he's having success. Well, sort of. Other animals get out of the way and Mole makes it to where he's going--the Storymobile. This is a very simple story with big textured mixed media illustrations. It's fun, but slight.
August 19, 2013
Any picture book that begins with one of the main characters picking books off a shelf and packing them into a bag, is sure to be a winner in my book! "Bear picked books off the shelf."
This is a heart-warming story about bear and mole planning to visit the book mobile. Mole decides that he wants his training wheels removed so that he can venture out on his bike.
This is a heart-warming story about bear and mole planning to visit the book mobile. Mole decides that he wants his training wheels removed so that he can venture out on his bike.
March 7, 2014
Mole is on a mission: he's going to the bookmobile for a story! He has decided that this is the day he needs to arrive on his bike sans training wheels. With a little wobble, wobble and wobble and a lot of help from bear, Mole accomplishes both tasks proudly! Good read aloud for the training wheel set.
September 20, 2019
This is a nice little story about two friends. It's cute and pleasant. I read it with my wife, and we both enjoyed it. It'd be nice to read to young children, especially those interested in learning to ride a bike. If you've read the other books of Bear and Mole by Will Hillenbrand, this one lives up to the others. Nicely done for a younger audience.
August 8, 2013
Mole quickly finds out that riding his bike without training wheels can be dangerous for not only him but for the others around him as well. The bright mixed media illustrations will delight readers of all ages.
January 30, 2014
Fun pictures, short easy text for younger listeners, but with great voacb builders like tugged, hoisted, encouraged, etc. Also a great message in a few words--sometimes you fall down, but try again. I also love that bear and mole are going to a storytime (read by mother goose!) at a bookmobile.
December 7, 2014
What an adorable story about never giving up, friendship and the power of believing in yourself. I adored everything about this book. It was such a delight that both the kids and I loved! What a hit! I cannot wait to read more with bear and mole! 5 stars.
July 10, 2013
Bear helps his friend Mole learn how to ride a bicycle. Charming, simple story and warm, appealing illustration.
August 28, 2013
Mole learns to ride a bike and ends up at a bookmobile!
November 25, 2013
Love the emphasis on action words: tugged, hoisted, snapped, etc.
December 12, 2013
The large, mixed-media illustrations would be suitable for group sharing. This is a humorous look at a mole's out of control ride on his bicycle, after the removal of the training wheels.
December 12, 2013
I especially liked where Mole wanted to go at the end of the story.
December 30, 2013
Oh, the day the training wheels come off! The excitement, the tears. All beautifully conveyed in short sentences and energetic illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
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