10. Bear is a Bear

Bear is a Bear. Jonathan Stutzman. Illustrated by Dan Santat. 2021. [September] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Bear is a bear hopeful and shy. Bear is a bear full of love. Bear is a new friend. Bear is a snack. Bear is a tissue. Bear is a soft, warm pillow. Bear is a bear covered in fuzz. Bear is a bear full of love.

Premise/plot: The many, many, many, many, many, many adventures (with a few misadventures perhaps???) of a girl and her teddy bear. The book opens with BEAR being given to a very young child. Throughout the book, we see them together through ALL that life has to bring. We see them together....until they aren't. But will Bear make a comeback???

As may be obvious from the cover art, Bear is presented throughout the book not as a TEDDY BEAR (a toy) but as an ACTUAL, ACTUAL, ACTUAL BEAR. It isn't until the very, very, very end of the book that readers catch a glimpse of him as a toy.

My thoughts: LOVELY. This book was absolutely lovely. There were definitely some bittersweet moments--from an adult perspective mainly. But the ending was redemptive, in my opinion. I don't know that a child would read this and feel any sadness whatsoever. Though perhaps a sensitive child might. I can't say for sure. 

I might have read it as a child and thought NO, NEVER, EVER, EVER WILL I EVER PUT MY BEAR IN A BOX AND FORGET ABOUT HIM. 

But I think the story celebrates LIFE and is very true-to-life. There were little details--like seeing the Bear provide comfort to the girl as she reads LITTLE WOMEN. (That book does need a warning label!!!!)

Is it more for adults than children???? I'm not sure. Perhaps. Probably. Does that matter??? I think adults *need* picture books too. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers