Babies and bears have a lot in common . . . They're both cute and cuddly, they both like to color and play peek-a-boo, and they both eat porridge and dress up for Halloween. But there is a very important thing to understand . . . babies are NOT bears!
There are many things a baby and a bear have in common, especially the baby and bear in this humorous story by author Linda Lodding. The baby and bear share many attributes that they think are unique only to them, such as how cute and cuddly they are or how they both enjoy playing peek-a-boo or even how much they enjoy reading books about each other.
There are differences, though, that the baby and bear soon learn about each other after they spend so much time learning what they have in common. While the baby enjoys soft, soothing lullaby music, the bear enjoys banjo-strumming, bass-plucking, harmonica-blowing country music! As the comparing and contrasting go on and on, the baby and bear realize the truth about the phrase "babies are not bears", which is quite alright!
- Author Linda Lodding and illustrator Lara Dombret combine back-and-forth text with bright and captivating images to tell a story of a budding friendship between two unlikely characters. Their friendship develops over common likes and an understanding that each does not necessarily have to like everything the other likes.
- This story provides a great opportunity for educators to teach students the value of communication and learning to compare things that make certain people happy or sad. After reading the story aloud to a class, educators can dialogue with students or have them dialogue with each other on what makes them happy.
- Communities looking to bring members closer together can learn quite a bit from this sweet story about two unlikely friends. Even the most ferocious bear and the most timid baby can find common ground, whether it be playing games, singing songs, or even enjoying the same foods.
Linda Ravin Lodding is an award-winning author of ten children's books and, while she's definitely not a bear, she does share their love for country music, floppy hats, and books. She is originally from New York, but now happily splits her time between an apartment in the heart of Stockholm and a snug red cottage on a Swedish island, where she dreams up new stories while swaying in her hammock.
Lara Dombret was born and currently lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She studied Fine Arts at the National University of Art and took classes in photography and graphic design at the University of Buenos Aires. She has published artwork in magazines and children's books for many publishers around the world. She has also worked in advertising graphics, packaging design, children's TV channels, and campaigns for the Ministry of Culture. She has participated in several group exhibitions at the Buenos Aires Children's Book Fair, the Recoleta Cultural Center, and the Argentine National Library.
