Bear Has a Story to Tell

Oh, Philip and Erin Stead... While I love all of their individual works, their collaborations have produced two of my favorite books. Their Caldecott Medal winner, A Sick Day for Amos McGee (check out my recommendation from August 13, 2018), ranks at the top of my all-time favorite picture books. Today's book, Bear Has a Story to Tell, doesn’t fall far behind!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Bear is the friend we all want to have, and the friend we all should aspire to be. He is kind, gentle, and patient. He puts his friends needs before his own desires. He cares about those around him, but takes care of himself too. And when his plans go awry, he stays calm and allows his friends to help him. What a wonderful role model for us all!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In addition to helping us talk to children about what kind of community members they want to be, Bear Has a Story to Tell can also be used to introduce scientific concepts of seasons, hibernation, and migration. Follow that with a lesson in storytelling and you've covered all your bases with just one book!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀From the very first sentence, Philip’s writing allows you understand how weary Bear feels. You slow your voice down, and you speak quietly. You know how much he misses his friends as he helps them settle in for the winter, and you rejoice with him as he welcomes them back in the spring. Then, you feel his disappointment when, after such a long wait, he can't remember his story! How his friends return his kind favors is sure to bring a smile to even the most tired face. And Erin's pencil and watercolor illustrations! Erin's immaculate details lend a sense of realism to the animals, but with almost human facial expressions and emotions.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀By the way, the Steads have a new book coming out in March 2019. You can bet I'm pre-ordering that one!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀If you liked Bear Has a Story to Tell, check out:A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip and Erin Stead (of course!)And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano (and illustrated by Erin Stead!)Waiting by Kevin HenkesBear's New Friend by Karma Wilson (or any of her Bear books)

I ran across Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead on Amazon while I was searching for new picture books to use for Story Time at the library where I work. This book is a treasure! The illustrations by Erin Stead grabbed me first - a fuzzy brown bear sits on a log, talking to a duck, while fall leaves spiral down on the cover.The sweet, evocative text explains that Bear tries to tell a story to his friends. Each of the other animals is busy preparing for winter and doesn't have time to listen. Bear graciously helps each friend with his preparations and then moves on. The soft pastel illustrations depict Bear's facial expressions and body language with exquisite sensitivity. Finally, hibernation claims Bear and he falls asleep, his story still untold. When he wakens in the spring, his friends are ready to listen but Bear has forgotten the story. Now his friends must help him to recapture the tale he planned to pass on. This book has so many applications not only for Story Time and one-on-one sharing but it would provide an awesome springboard for a children's sermon. The themes of friendship and selflessness are obvious. The more subtle refrain of forgotten stories, echoes growing old and depending on friends and family to recall past events. This picture book deserves a space in every public and school library and most homes, too. It's a gem!

My 21-month old loves "Bear Has a Story to Tell." We bought it because she enjoyed "A Sick Day for Amos McGee" so much, and this did not disappoint. The illustrations have a very different feel than "Amos," but very beautiful. And the surprising "twist" in the narrative is a delight for adults and children.

Loved this story! Bear patiently tries to share his story, while each of his friends is hurriedly preparing for winter. Feels like real life!The art is exquisite!

My wife purchased this book for our niece, but we had a chance to read it before giving it away. It is a sweet delightful tale that strikes just the right tone and uses no unnecessary words. Throughout the book, one is wondering what story bear has to tell, and the end is simply wonderful. In addition the book teaches patience, demonstrating the manner in which a kind a gentle soul can easily let things go and still arrive at the best outcome even when it was not the intended or desired outcome.The artwork is wonderful, simple soft and inviting. The printing is also very well done, giving the book a nice solid feel. I will not buy this for us, since we have hundreds of children's books and I only keep those that I think would be read again and again. But I will buy this as a gift for friends. I highly recommend it.

Philip Stead writes a sweet story that is a favorite of children. Parents and grandchildren enjoy reading it as well. Remarkably delicate and endearing illustrations.

I love the work of Erin Stead the illustrator of this book but I especially love when she works on projects with her husband, Philip Stead, who is the author of this book. This is a very simple and sweet story of a bear that wants to share a story before he falls asleep for the winter. Erin's illustrations make you want to jump in the book and sit by this fuzzy bear and listen to his story since no one else has the time to. When you just need to read a quiet book, this is a great one! It would be a perfect bedtime story.

I like the other story (A Sick Day for Amos McGee) a lot more, but my daughter (who's the real audience here, right) actually really likes this one.

This is a sweet, gentle book. It is another triumph for the A Sick Day for Amos McGee team. My children love it.

Non mi aspettavo una storia così. Ha lasciato sorpresa me. La storia di un orso che prima di andare in letargo ha una storia da raccontare, ma non trova nessuno disposto ad ascoltarlo in quanto tutti gli altri animali, a loro volta, stanno preparandosi per l'autunno. L'orso da una mano a tutti ricevendo in cambio la promessa di essere ascoltato al risveglio. Ma dopo un lungo inverno.....non vi svelo il finale. Belle anche le immagini che a 15 mesi servono molto.

Ho comprato questa storia per i bambini all'asilo e oltre ad essere semplice da capire (è inglese ovviamente) le immagini sono bellissimeI miei bambini la adorano

Ich habe dieses Buch im Sachunterricht vorgelesen zum Einstieg in das Thema Tiere im Winter.Das Buch hat den Kindern sehr gut gefallen und sie konnten der Geschichte gut folgen

Love this story about a bear with a story to tell. Lessons in patience and putting others first