Suzy Davies's Blog: Book News - Posts Tagged "snow-bears"
"Snugs The Snow Bear" - a Bear of This Time- Unique, and Magical!
International Polar Bear Day on 27th February is fast approaching - and Snugs, the Snow Bear Hero of my Children's Series, has a message on Climate Change and Green Issues for all my readers!
But Snugs is more than just a global voice for The Environment - he is a bear of his time, unique, and magical.
Those of you who read my posts will know the story of my inspiration for the bear, but I would not have written Snugs' story in quite the same way, were it not for the great writers who inspired me, and to whom I am most grateful!
For, although Snugs is a modern bear, he also borrows from the nostalgia of the past!
From Paddington Bear, who hailed from Peru, Snugs takes on his exotic quality - he comes from Greenland, a place also associated with Santa Claus!
Raymond Briggs', "The Snowman," touched me as an allegory about death, dying and bereavement, and Snugs borrows the idea that this glorious planet we live in may also be dying, too, unless we take steps to address Global Warming.
We should remember that many beautiful wild creatures will face extinction, and there is a sense in which the majestic, magical bear, Snugs, represents a call to action to avert this potential disaster.
Elisabeth Beresford, of "The Wombles" fame, made an enormous impact on us all, when her tales of these delightful creatures put Green Issues at the forefront of our agenda!
I would also like to acknowledge that the humor and vision in Dr Seuss, and the notion of "going places" in a book, resonated with me, and is echoed in the theme of travel being a great educator in "The Snugs Series."
Finally, Snugs is also about a philosophy for life, and some of Snugs' insights, when he is quiet, and alone with his thoughts, reflect the old-fashioned whimsy of Pooh Bear!
So, what makes Snugs unique? Well, not only is he the most lovable, snuggable bear, but he also has magical qualities. Indigenous people believe that snow bears have supernatural powers!
Let's celebrate Snugs, this Snow Bear of our time, on International Polar Bear Day, as a symbol of all that is magical and mystical about this beautiful planet, our children's heritage!
But Snugs is more than just a global voice for The Environment - he is a bear of his time, unique, and magical.
Those of you who read my posts will know the story of my inspiration for the bear, but I would not have written Snugs' story in quite the same way, were it not for the great writers who inspired me, and to whom I am most grateful!
For, although Snugs is a modern bear, he also borrows from the nostalgia of the past!
From Paddington Bear, who hailed from Peru, Snugs takes on his exotic quality - he comes from Greenland, a place also associated with Santa Claus!
Raymond Briggs', "The Snowman," touched me as an allegory about death, dying and bereavement, and Snugs borrows the idea that this glorious planet we live in may also be dying, too, unless we take steps to address Global Warming.
We should remember that many beautiful wild creatures will face extinction, and there is a sense in which the majestic, magical bear, Snugs, represents a call to action to avert this potential disaster.
Elisabeth Beresford, of "The Wombles" fame, made an enormous impact on us all, when her tales of these delightful creatures put Green Issues at the forefront of our agenda!
I would also like to acknowledge that the humor and vision in Dr Seuss, and the notion of "going places" in a book, resonated with me, and is echoed in the theme of travel being a great educator in "The Snugs Series."
Finally, Snugs is also about a philosophy for life, and some of Snugs' insights, when he is quiet, and alone with his thoughts, reflect the old-fashioned whimsy of Pooh Bear!
So, what makes Snugs unique? Well, not only is he the most lovable, snuggable bear, but he also has magical qualities. Indigenous people believe that snow bears have supernatural powers!
Let's celebrate Snugs, this Snow Bear of our time, on International Polar Bear Day, as a symbol of all that is magical and mystical about this beautiful planet, our children's heritage!
How Reading Fantasy Books Helps Develop Children's Imaginations and why this is Important.
Sometimes, people overlook the value of reading fantasy to children because of our obsession with a hierarchy of knowledge that places “realism” above “fantasy” and “science” above “art.”
We want to cram our children’s heads full of facts, such is our banking system of education. But this is not what education is about.
Although my brain is more artistic than scientific, I value science and hope that my books will help to develop the imaginations of scientists in the making as well as budding artists. And I think they will! For nothing that has ever been invented by a scientist has been invented without an imaginative brain. And nothing created by an artist is created without the capacity to envision something out of the ordinary.
Although both my children’s books are based in reality, they are full of modern parables, tales within tales. This kind of fantasy is created at metaphorical level in the text and allows for a multiplicity of meanings and scope for children’s imaginations. It is through exploring the many threads that combining of metaphors can create, that children learn to innovate for themselves.
Learning to put unusual things together at metaphorical level helps "out of the box" thinking.
Older children will also learn to reason. Not all possible meanings in a text are equally valid. They will use logic and reason to uncover what is the most likely interpretation of the book or what the author intended the meaning to be. And they will have opinions of their own.
Some time ago a reviewer of “Snugs The Snow Bear” seemed to misunderstand why I had mentioned The Northern Lights in my snow bear tale, and gone into some detail describing them. They, of course, were a metaphor for the supernatural magic of the snow bear, and were meant to indicate that he should be free to show up like them, as part of nature, part of the environment and natural beauty of the world.
At another level, an older child might interpret these lights as triggers to fantastic memories of home, a kind of analogy to the way in which memory operates like cinema - a series of flashing images before one’s eyes, that can be fleeting and transitory. Of course, at a more literal level, The Northern Lights immediately conjure up the snow bear in his natural environment.
A quirky metaphor in Snugs The Snow Bear is an egg-timer. I will not reveal the literal meaning in the text here. But at metaphorical level, it may be interpreted to represent the “sands of time” running out on climate change.
Children’s books that are written clearly and simply mean very young kids can read them and enjoy them. Those that also have rich layers of meaning allow older children and adults to enjoy them, too.
It is my belief that imagination is like a muscle. Use it often enough, and you will develop it.
If we are to see future generations of artists, scientists, great thought leaders and innovative business people in the making, they will need imagination in bucketloads.
Children’s books are a rehearsal for life. Through fantasy, children can learn to problem solve, put themselves in the position of the characters and develop an imaginative empathy for others, including animals.
Rather than dumbing down and short-changing our kids, we should be posing questions about the world around them for which they can seek answers and solutions.
This does not mean our books have to be dry and boring. On the contrary, through being entertained, children will surprise us with the discoveries their imaginative minds make.
We want to cram our children’s heads full of facts, such is our banking system of education. But this is not what education is about.
Although my brain is more artistic than scientific, I value science and hope that my books will help to develop the imaginations of scientists in the making as well as budding artists. And I think they will! For nothing that has ever been invented by a scientist has been invented without an imaginative brain. And nothing created by an artist is created without the capacity to envision something out of the ordinary.
Although both my children’s books are based in reality, they are full of modern parables, tales within tales. This kind of fantasy is created at metaphorical level in the text and allows for a multiplicity of meanings and scope for children’s imaginations. It is through exploring the many threads that combining of metaphors can create, that children learn to innovate for themselves.
Learning to put unusual things together at metaphorical level helps "out of the box" thinking.
Older children will also learn to reason. Not all possible meanings in a text are equally valid. They will use logic and reason to uncover what is the most likely interpretation of the book or what the author intended the meaning to be. And they will have opinions of their own.
Some time ago a reviewer of “Snugs The Snow Bear” seemed to misunderstand why I had mentioned The Northern Lights in my snow bear tale, and gone into some detail describing them. They, of course, were a metaphor for the supernatural magic of the snow bear, and were meant to indicate that he should be free to show up like them, as part of nature, part of the environment and natural beauty of the world.
At another level, an older child might interpret these lights as triggers to fantastic memories of home, a kind of analogy to the way in which memory operates like cinema - a series of flashing images before one’s eyes, that can be fleeting and transitory. Of course, at a more literal level, The Northern Lights immediately conjure up the snow bear in his natural environment.
A quirky metaphor in Snugs The Snow Bear is an egg-timer. I will not reveal the literal meaning in the text here. But at metaphorical level, it may be interpreted to represent the “sands of time” running out on climate change.
Children’s books that are written clearly and simply mean very young kids can read them and enjoy them. Those that also have rich layers of meaning allow older children and adults to enjoy them, too.
It is my belief that imagination is like a muscle. Use it often enough, and you will develop it.
If we are to see future generations of artists, scientists, great thought leaders and innovative business people in the making, they will need imagination in bucketloads.
Children’s books are a rehearsal for life. Through fantasy, children can learn to problem solve, put themselves in the position of the characters and develop an imaginative empathy for others, including animals.
Rather than dumbing down and short-changing our kids, we should be posing questions about the world around them for which they can seek answers and solutions.
This does not mean our books have to be dry and boring. On the contrary, through being entertained, children will surprise us with the discoveries their imaginative minds make.
The Number One Political Issue in The States!
Climate Change is now the top political issue in The United States of America.
We are concerned about our planet. Perhaps we should raise awareness of Climate Change and Global Warming when children are at their most receptive.
"Snugs The Snow Bear" is a fun fiction story which introduces kids to endangered species and Global Warming shows children what they can do to help protect the planet by recycling.
We are concerned about our planet. Perhaps we should raise awareness of Climate Change and Global Warming when children are at their most receptive.
"Snugs The Snow Bear" is a fun fiction story which introduces kids to endangered species and Global Warming shows children what they can do to help protect the planet by recycling.
Book News
"The Flamingos Who Painted The Sky," our new picture book is NOW fully available to bring in #Christmas #sunshine, #flamingo #sunsets, and #happiness #worldwide Illustrated by the talented Shirin Mass ...more
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