Goodbye, Bear

Beaver and Mole are wondering how they’ll ever make it without Bear. He was their best buddy, and now that he’s gone, they feel terribly lost. They decide the best way to move forward is together; they’ll even finish building his tree house in remembrance of him. Rabbit, Hedgehog, and Mouse offer to help in the effort. Working as a team eases their sadness and allows them to discover new things about Bear. When their task is complete, they celebrate together and look out into the beautiful night sky at the Great Bear constellation, a forever reminder of their dear friend.

Young children ages four to nine who are fans of Jane Chapman, who has become a prolific author and illustrator, will welcome this sweet and thoughtful tale with open arms. Woven through its pages are so many important and relevant themes for little ones: friendship, community, loss, and healing. The illustrations are poignant, precious, and powerful. The soft, watercolor hues create a perfect blend of serenity and strength.

Goodbye, Bear is ideal for youth who’ve suffered a recent loss. They’ll find comfort and encouragement in its message. Those who haven’t will savor it just as much and will likely mark it as a treasured pick.