Bear Feels Scared

by Karma Wilson, Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Overview

Bad weather frightens Bear, but his woodland friends are there to help him in this sweet, reassuring Bear story from bestselling duo Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman!

In the deep, dark woods
by the Strawberry Vale,
a big bear lumbers
down a small, crooked trail...

The sun is setting and it’s getting chilly. When Bear’s friends discover that he is not at home in his lair, they march out into the cold to find their pal. Friends don’t let friends stay lost! Wren, Owl, and Raven take to the skies while Badger, Mole, and Mouse search on the ground. Pretty soon Bear is found, and once he’s back in his cave, he feels quite safe with his friends all around.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689859861
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	08/05/2008
Series:	Bear Books Series
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	68,748
Product dimensions:	11.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Karma Wilson is the bestselling author of several picture books, including the Bear Books series; Where Is Home, Little Pip?; and A Dog Named Doug. Karma lives in Montana.

Jane Chapman is the illustrator of over one hundred books for children, including Dilly Duckling by Claire Freedman and I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanagh, as well as Karma Wilson’s Bear Books series and Mortimer’s Christmas Manger. She lives with her family in Dorset, England. Visit Jane at JaneKChapman.com.

Editorial Reviews

"In the deep dark woods/ by the Strawberry Vale / a big bear lumbers / down a small, crooked trail." Bear Feels Scared delivers a message as impressive as its title: There is nothing to be ashamed about; even giant furry creatures sometimes feel scared. A picture book perfect for nighttime reading.

Beloved Bear gets another emotional workout, this time a frightening episode in the dark and stormy woods. While Bear is on the trail of a snack, things quickly turn windy, wet and, as Bear gets lost, downright spooky. He cries and trembles, curling up amid the gnarled roots of a huge tree until his ever-faithful band of woodland friends-who have carefully formed a proper search party-come to his aid. Via rhyming text and the repeated refrain "And the bear feels scared," Wilson and Chapman (Bear Snores On; Bear Feels Sick) once again tap into the psychology of preschoolers, exploringa common childhood emotion. Chapman's acrylics capture the motion of the blowing winds, while Bear's ultra-expressive eyes and lumbering hulk demonstrate his vulnerability; readers will immediately connect to his experience. Meanwhile, in the cozy fire-lit lair, preparations for Bear's rescue-replete with lantern and string to tie the searchers to one another-evoke warm feelings about teamwork and support. Ages 3-7. (Aug.)

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Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1

This likable character and his animal friends are back in one of their best outings since Bear Snores On (S & S, 2002). While walking in the woods, Bear gets lost, and the other critters begin to worry about him. They form a search party, find their friend, and return to the lair to cuddle up and fall asleep, and finally, "the bear feels safe." Wilson's rhyming text moves along at a steady clip, with only the smallest missteps in meter, and the repeated refrain begs for audience participation. Chapman's acrylic illustrations perfectly mesh realism with emotional expression; the characters show their concern for Bear, whose fear is almost palpable. The combination of full-bleed spreads, single-page paintings, and smaller insets keeps the story flowing and encourages page turns. Bear's cozy den, painted in warm oranges and browns, contrasts effectively with the outdoor scenes, done in blacks, blues, and grays. The reassuring story is simple, but speaks to children's fears and the safety they find with the people who care about them, creating a comforting and accessible forum for discussion. With its large, richly colored illustrations, this book will work equally well one-on-one or in storytime, and listeners are sure to request repeated readings.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

School Library Journal