Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Bear Feels Scared
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Picture Book Series
For ages 3 to 6
Simon and Schuster, 2008 ISBN: 978-0689859861
Bear is in the woods and he is hungry, but the cold is so fierce that Bear decides that he should give up the search for food and go home. However, before he gets to his cozy cave the sun begins to set, the wind howls around the trees, and poor bear "feels scared." Unable to find his way, Bear crouches at the base of a tree and shivers with fear.
Back at the cave Bear's good friends are beginning to wonder where their friend is. They worry because "our Bear doesn't roam." It is Wren who suggests that they should go out into the storm to look for Bear. And so they set off, with Badger leading the way. The birds "search high" looking for their friend and everyone calls out for Bear.
Anyone who has been lost and scared will immediately be able to identify with Bear. Just because he is big does not mean that he does not get frightened on occasion. Children will be comforted by the fact that Bear's friends go out to look at him, and they will laugh when they find out where Bear is in relation to his warm and safe cave. Badger's lamplight casts a warm glow across the pages as the animals venture out into the gloom of the stormy evening, providing a perfect warm and comforting foil to the dark wind-tossed woodland scenes.
Anyone who has read and enjoyed the other Bear books will love this addition to the series. Once again Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman explore a familiar situation with humor and sensitivity.
