PPBF: Bear Despair

Author/Illustrator: Gaëtan Dorémus
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, 2012
Age Level: 4-7
Themes: stories without words, bears, stealing, adventure
Opening:…..(story without words!)
Summary: (from the publisher) Don’t ever take a bear’s teddy bear – no matter how cute you think it is! If you do, you’ll be in for trouble. Big trouble. For a bear whose teddy has been stolen isn’t simply heartbroken, but determined to get it back. So determined that he might just gobble up more than honey to do so! However, should he succeed in getting his teddy back, then there just might be a surprise in store. This is a book that all readers will relish, and one they will want to read again and again.
Why I like this book: This book is for anyone who has ever had their dearest and most beloved toy taken from them – did someone in the crowd NOT raise their hand? For one, I really like the book’s format 10 1/4″ x 6″, and the thick paper and of course the drawings, because that’s what they are, and maybe that is why the strokes retain their energy. Recently, in looking over some other artist’s start-to-finish stories, from sketches to final art, I have noticed how unfortunate it is that so much energy is often completely lost in the process. Maybe we are too focused with colors and depth to notice that this happens. But not here!
Resources/Activities: this book is a perfect lead in a discussion about emotions: here is a pdf from The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) with wonderful ideas on teaching the vocabulary of emotions – click here BTJFoxSupplementalActivities
For more PPBF picks, go to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog – HERE

NYT Best Illustrated Books includes Bear Despair!

For another review with ALL the pictures go to Brain Pickings – I dare you not to love this blog!