Just in time for Father's Day, this imaginative role-reversal story combines appealing text told from the children's point of view with hilarious illustrations that will ring true to parents and caregivers. One morning, Dad wakes up in a Grrrrizzly mood ; the accompanying picture shows two young kids standing on top of Dad in the bed, fighting with one another, while another, younger child sticks his finger in Dad's nose. The cat is scratching off fur onto Dad's pillow, while the dog chews his eyeglasses. Soon Dad transforms into an actual bear, but it turns out all he needs is a little fun, attention, and free time to cheer him up just like most kids. The children take care of Dad for the rest of the day, and soon all is back to normal, until Mom comments on the messy house: This place looks just like a pigsty! Alert readers and listeners will snicker to see the new, curly, pink tail poking out of Dad's pants seat.--Foote, Diane Copyright 2009 Booklist

When Dad wakes up one morning, he is in a GRRRRIZZLY mood, and after grrroaning, grrrizzling and GRRRUMPing, he goes back to bed where he can't do any more damage. Mum goes out with the other sibs, telling her son to check on his dad, which the boy does with some trepidationwell-founded, as it turns out, as Dad has turned into a genuine (bespectacled and pajama'd) grizzly bear. While his bear-dad's table manners are lacking, however, he's huge fun on an outing, and father and son end up having "the best day EVER." Harrison's illustrations make the most of her absurd plot, sprawling appropriately all over the oversized pages and supplying plenty of subtext for readers to enjoy. In a season full of saccharine, this is the real thing. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Dad wakes up in a "Grrrrizzly mood" and later transforms into a "GREAT BIG GRIZZLY BEAR!" The protagonist loses patience with his transformed dad's messiness, prompting the duo to spend quality time at the movies and the park. By story's end, the muted illustrations depict the characters in their more familiar roles. Though the story is disjointed, the premise is amusing. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

K-Gr 2-After a particularly trying morning, a grumpy dad morphs into a grizzly bear. His son is surprised but vows to look after him. The boy starts with a quick trip to the bathroom to help his messy father clean up and then gives him breakfast. It's here that the cranky grizzly gets a much-needed talking to from his son about his attitude. The chastised bear and his son are soon headed to town for a movie, bonding in the park and just hanging out together. Back home the fun continues with honey sandwiches, soccer on TV, and the thing that all Dads in any form do best-give great, big bear hugs. Grizzly dad transforms back into human dad just as mom and the boy's younger siblings return. This is a tale that children and their parents will easily relate to. The amusing illustrations are an ideal match for the text, which varies in font for emphasis. Using ample details, pitch-perfect color, excellent facial expressions, and a combination of single pages and full spreads, Harrison's artwork brings her text to life. The look on the dad's face when he discovers he's a bear is priceless. There's plenty to see in each humorous picture, but this oversize book will still work well in a group setting. An excellent sequel to Harrison's When Mom Turned into a Monster (Carolrhoda, 1996).-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.