A Story for Bear - Softcover

Haseley, Dennis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 132874048X ISBN 13: 9781328740489

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2018

Synopsis

 When a young bear finds a scrap of an old letter, he is so curious about the mysterious marks that he searches out their source—a cabin in the woods. There he meets a young woman and is mesmerized by the sound of her voice. Though he cannot understand her words, he returns every day to hear the woman's stories of sailors, goddesses, and far-off lands.  Dennis Haseley's magical fantasy and Jim LaMarche's luminous illustrations together celebrate the joy of reading.

About this title

About the Author:

DENNIS HASELEY has written many fine books for children, including the acclaimed Kite Flier and The Old Banjo. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.   

From Publishers Weekly:

In Haseley's (Kite Flier) wistful tale of a bear beguiled by a woman he befriends one summer, inconsistencies render the events more puzzling than haunting. The narrative begins from the bear's point of view, as he first discovers "something lying on the ground," which readers can see is a letter. On the next spread, the narrative voice shifts: "Through the years, the bear looked at the paper with wonder it seemed as far away and mysterious as the moon." Next, the text switches to the main action: the bear observes a woman outside her cabin, carrying something he can describe only as "a mysterious square thing." However, in the next sentence he identifies it: "He [tried] to understand what she was doing as she held the book." The tug-of-war in point of view continues as the woman begins to read aloud to the bear. At the end of her stay, she leaves her books for him (even though he cannot read), and he takes them back to his cave, where they provide him with comfort all winter. LaMarche's (The Raft) shimmering pastel spreads go far to carry the tale over its rough spots. The artwork conveys the bear and the woman in growing intimacy, their heads drawing closer together over the shared books. Nature scenes chronicle the passing of the summer; in the sky behind them, geese fly south, hinting at her departure. Yet LaMarche alone cannot clarify the narrative. Some children may find the magic in this peaceable kingdom, but more will be left outside, wondering what to make of it. Ages 5-8.
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About this edition

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 132874048X
• ISBN 13: 9781328740489
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: LaMarche Jim