How to Talk Like a Bear

by Charlie Grandy, Alex G. Griffiths (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

On the long list of things, we, as a society should learn to do, you may not think talking like a bear is a top priority. But in Charlie Grandy’s How to Talk Like a Bear, you’ll quickly learn that you barely know what you’re missing! For example, did you know that roar could mean “Give me your ice cream sundaes, humans!” With wit, charm and a clever reader-engagement aspect, How to Talk Like a Bear hits all the right notes for a great read-aloud. I wonder how a bear says "what an excellent debut?"

Told in the same fourth-wall-breaking style of B. J. Novak's The Book With No Pictures, How to Talk Like a Bear is the perfect how-to guide to speaking fluent bear.

Want to learn how to speak Bear? Well, you came to the right place. It's far more than just growling and roaring (a common misconception). There's a lot more to it. It's very easy to accidentally say the wrong phrase when you're trying to get your point across. For example, saying "ROOOAARR" instead of "ROAAARRRR" is the difference between wanting a sandwich and wanting to get into beekeeping.

This silly romp is perfect for read-alouds and is the exact right gift for anyone looking for a laugh (or looking to learn a new language).

"A laugh-out-loud take on the challenges of making ourselves understood."--Kirkus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593350683
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/14/2023
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD550L (what's this?)
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Charlie Grandy is an Emmy and Peabody Award winning television writer and producer known for his work on Saturday Night Live, The Office, and The Mindy Project. He lives in Los Angeles with his family.

Alex Griffiths has been drawing pictures for as long as he can remember. In his childhood, he loved nothing more than surrounding himself with pens and paper, scribbling for hours to create sea monsters, flying creatures, monkeys and ghosts on the back of old cereal boxes. Thirty years later, not too much has changed.
Now working as a children’s illustrator and graphic designer in Toronto, Alex combines pen and ink with watercolor and digital textures to create his illustrations. Alex’s debut author-illustrated picture book, The Bug Collector, was published in 2019 with Andersen Press.

Editorial Reviews

"[How to Talk Like a Bear] will have readers giggling with delight as they roar at varying volumes—each roar resulting in snappy comebacks from the bear. It’s a book designed for reading aloud to large groups, and the illustrations support the text perfectly with reaction shots that will remain humorous even after several reads. . . while the story will shine brightest when read with groups, the ending makes it equally appropriate for an evening read before starting a pre-bedtime ritual. . . A laugh-out-loud take on the challenges of making ourselves understood."—Kirkus

"Beyond the fun premise that allows kids to be in on the joke, the structure of the story encourages lively, back-and-forth interaction with a storytime crowd. Though the narrator suggests that talking like a bear will give young readers license to do what they want one hundred percent of the time (“GRRRR!!!” means “Um, I am not doing that, thank you very much!”), parents and caregivers will appreciate that the sentiment is primarily used for comedic effect, as even young bears can’t get off the hook for bath time. Griffiths’ illustrations, done in ink and colored digitally, support the story in a straightforward and cheerful manner."—BCCB

From the Publisher

2022-11-16
Communication is always the key.

A brown bear in a striped shirt, black pants, and green shoes is here to help turn readers into better communicators. How? By teaching them how to talk like a bear. The audience, represented by a blue speech bubble, interacts with their new bear friend by repeating a few common lines like “ROAR!” and “GRRR!!!” Pronunciation is important, however. For example, when readers think they have roared, “Give me your ice cream sundaes, humans,” they have in fact said, “Go get a haircut.” The intricacies of language, right? It’s plot points like these that will have readers giggling with delight as they roar at varying volumes—each roar resulting in snappy comebacks from the bear. It’s a book designed for reading aloud to large groups, and the illustrations support the text perfectly with reaction shots that will remain humorous even after several reads. The ending, which will remind young bears-in-training that they won’t always get their own way, is a lighthearted return to reality. And while the story will shine brightest when read with groups, the ending makes it equally appropriate for an evening read before starting a pre-bedtime ritual. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A laugh-out-loud take on the challenges of making ourselves understood. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews