Big Bear Was Not the Same

by Joanna Rowland, John Ledda (Illustrator)

Overview

One scary day can change everything . . .

Little Bear loves the woods, his home, and going on adventures with his best friend, Big Bear. Big Bear is so big and strong and brave. He always protects Little Bear and helps him feel safe. Then something scary happens to Big Bear. He's caught in a forest fire. Even after he escapes and is safe, Little Bear can tell that Big Bear is not the same. He runs, roars, or freezes in fear when ordinary things happen in the woods that remind him of that traumatic day. How can Little Bear's big, strong, brave friend be so scared now? And how can Little Bear be a good friend?

In Big Bear Was Not the Same, Joanna Rowland, author of the bestelling book The Memory Box, gently introduces young readers to the common feelings of fear, anxiety, and anger that can follow a traumatic event, and shows them how to have empathy and compassion for themselves and for loved ones experiencing the effects of trauma.

Includes backmatter written by a family therapist with information on how to talk about trauma with children. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506471419
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	08/24/2021
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	254,169
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Joanna Rowland grew up in Sacramento, California, where she still lives today with her husband and three children. She teaches kindergarten by day and writes picture books at night. In the summer, you'll find her at the pool coaching synchronized swimming or cozying up with a book. She is the author of The Memory Box: A Book about Grief; The Memory Book: A Grief Journal for Children and Families; Stay Through the Storm; When Things Are Hard, Remember; and Big Bear Was Not the Same.

John Ledda was born and raised in southeast Michigan. He moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to pursue his MFA at the Academy of Art University. Big Bear Was Not the Same is his debut picture book.

Editorial Reviews

08/09/2021

Rowland uses a pair of bear best friends, Big Bear, who is a grizzly, and Little Bear, who is a black bear, to illustrate trauma and trauma responses, describing what happens after Big Bear survives a forest fire. Not quite understanding why his big, brave friend is acting so differently, Little Bear does his best to be supportive and help Big Bear cope. Rowland employs easily comprehensible language to explain how PTSD can be triggered: “Some days, Little Bear/ and Big Bear had good days/ that almost felt normal again./ But one smell could change it all.” In his picture book debut, Ledda presents digital illustrations of expressive characters, seamlessly reflecting the text’s shifting emotions through varying color schemes, perspectives, and typography. An accessible, age-appropriate primer that sheds light on trauma and PTSD. Back matter includes more information. Ages 4–7. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Joanna Rowland has a gift for telling stories that help children heal." —Anna Shinoda, author of Learning Not to Drown and senior advisor to the Campaign to Change Direction, Books Change Direction Initiative

"An accessible, age-appropriate primer that sheds light on trauma and PTSD." —Publishers Weekly

"This tender read-aloud gently affirms that healing takes time, support, and lots of love." —Laura Renauld, author of Porcupine's Pie, Bear's Bicycle, and Fred's Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers

"This book is an important asset to every shelf. Through its sincere and gentle text and art, Big Bear Was Not the Same handles the unpredictable effects of trauma in a tender and thoughtful way that both children and adults will find comforting." —Jessixa Bagley, author of Boats for Papa

"Whether you relate to Big Bear or Little Bear, this is a sweet and gentle story that makes the difficult emotions following a traumatic event easier to understand. This subject that is rarely touched upon in picture books is made accessible with soothing words and cozy illustrations." —Jessie Oliveros, author of The Remember Balloons

From the Publisher