I Can't Help a Big Bear!: A Basic First Aid Tale by Nanny Blu

by Nanny Blu, Angela Gooliaff (Illustrator)

Overview

Brassy Mouse was sure that he couldn't help an injured bear. Or could he?
How did this small mouse help a big bear without having any knowledge from a book
or first aid course (perhaps they don't have those for animals...)

Do you think your child is too young or small to help someone that is injured?
Would your child have the confidence to help someone that needs help?
Could you?

For those of you that believe you couldn't help...
WHAT IF YOU ARE WRONG?
Even if you do ONE thing to help someone in need...They may live to thank you!

Brassy Mouse and Big Bear will tug at your heartstrings!

It doesn't matter how big or small you are.
And it doesn't matter that you are different or unique.
It matters that you CARE!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525589942
Publisher:	FriesenPress
Publication date:	03/24/2022
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.17(d)
Age Range:	7 - 11 Years

About the Author

Nanny Blu is thrilled to be publishing her first children's story, almost twenty-four years after writing it.

After operating her own Licensed Family Day Care in Surrey and Victoria, B.C., Canada, she took a writing course, thinking it would be lovely to have her own storybook to read to her grandchildren.

She drew on the experiences of her daycare days, recalling how wonderful it was to encourage children to develop a sense of empowerment and help them believe in themselves.

Part of their playtime was to care for sick teddy bears and dolls. Of course, they had their doctor's kits and nurse's uniforms to help them feel competent in their playtime. But encouraging them to develop a pattern of nurturing after what they read in storybooks or made-up stories was much more of an influence.

Storytime was magical, and finding out what the children could remember of those stories weeks later was remarkable to her.

Her oldest son's ability to read stories in kindergarten, along with receiving an award from the principal, was due to him memorizing the words she read to him, and not to him learning his ABCs.

Publishing her story of Brassy Mouse and his friends became very important to her. It was about wanting to be a part of helping one reader and listener at a time, so they could repeat the process of caring for someone who might need their help one day.

And so it will go on, from one caring person to another.

Nanny Blu thanks you in advance for contacting and encouraging non-profit first aid organizations to add workshops and programs for parents with younger children. This is what she will be supporting herself, in the future.

Editorial Reviews

2022-12-08
In Blu’s children’s book, a mouse goes on a journey and learns to help others despite being very small.

Brassy Mouse starts by introducing young readers to his family, his desire to help others, and all the troubles that come with being small. The protagonist is determined to prove his worth, so he sets out from home on an adventure in the woods. After traveling far enough away to begin to feel scared, Brassy Mouse takes a tumble and ends up on top of a bear’s head. It turns out that Big Bear’s foot is stuck in a trap, and he desperately asks the young rodent for help. Brassy Mouse replies, “I’m too small to help you!” but soon realizes that fetching water for the bear to drink is easy enough. The mouse then asks Mr. Eagle to fly off to get more assistance, urges Mrs. Beaver to remove the trap, and talks to Big Bear to keep him from falling asleep. Because this is a children’s book, readers can easily predict that the ending will be pleasant: Big Bear gets help from multiple animals, and Brassy Mouse is happy and proud of himself. Blu clearly seeks to embolden young children to help others, noting that “YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE BIG TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED!” To that end, the book presents a series of educational first-aid strategies for kids faced with serious situations. Overall, however, it feels more like a pedagogical exercise than an engaging story. Gooliaff’s full-color illustrations aren’t especially endearing or stirring, and because there’s so much text, there isn’t much room for the images to add to the narrative. However, the detailed art will keep young eyes busy.

An unevenly executed kids’ book with a straightforward message of empowerment.

Kirkus Reviews