Bear and Bird - Hardcover

Skofield, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1585368350 ISBN 13: 9781585368358

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press, 2014

Synopsis

One spring evening an old bear finds a young bird, still learning to fly, has fallen to the ground. When the bear lifts the bird to safety, a friendship begins. Bear and Bird soon become constant companions, spending their days together, searching out berries and watching out for one another. They are only separated during the winter months when Bear hibernates and Bird flies south. As the years pass, their friendship grows stronger. Then one spring day, when Bird returns from his winter trip, Bear is not there to greet him. Days and then weeks pass and still no Bear. When Bird finally learns why his dear friend is absent, memories of their time together bring comfort and acceptance. In this tale of an unlikely but loving friendship, the cycle of life, including its joys and its sorrows, is gently explored.

About this title

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3—An unlikely friendship develops between an older bear and a baby bird after one helps the other. Over the years, they spend time together sharing berries and keeping each other safe. Although they hate saying goodbye each autumn, they dream about their spring reunions. One year Bird cannot find Bear and learns about his friend's death from her grandson. "Bear went into her den last autumn for the winter sleep. But she did not come out this spring. She is gone." Bird is reminded that although death touches us all, it's okay to be sad and that instead of being alone with our memories, it's better to share them or, better yet, make more with a new friend. Younger children may find the text too wordy and drawn out, but Thermes's illustrations are bright and appealing. The animals express their sadness with their eyes and posture, but there are no tears, and the mood is sorrowful, not bleak and dreary.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

From Booklist

When a young robin falls from his nest, Bear helps out by lifting him into a tree, thus cementing a new friendship in this story about the cycle of life. Throughout that season and for many years to come, the young bird and old bear meet in the meadow sharing berries and conversation. Only during the winter, when Bird has migrated and Bear is hibernating, are the two apart. Bird is heartbroken one spring when he returns to the meadow and Bear is gone. His sorrow is mitigated when he makes a new friend that has much in common with the old bear. Bright, guileless pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations vary in size and gently show the age-old story of life and loss. The simple shapes, outlined in black, and clear, pleasing colors will appeal to young children. Pair this with Mo Willem’s City Dog, Country Frog (2010) for a similar tale with a hopeful ending. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Maryann Owen

Edition details

• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1585368350
• ISBN 13: 9781585368358
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Thermes Jennifer