My Bear Griz

by Suzanne McGinness

Billy has a bear called Griz. A Grizzly Bear. And the two friends have all kinds of wonderful adventures together. They go exploring, they play hide and seek, they eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches, share secrets and tell jokes. They even go out at night to do some star-gazing - and their favourite constellation is the Great Bear of course. Griz is the best friend a boy could possibly have. And is he a real Grizzly Bear or a teddy bear? Well, that's for every reader to decide, but there are definitely big bear pawprints leading out of the book! This painterly picture book, with its spare text, including speech bubbles, and its wonderful full-page images of a very real bear, is an exciting debut by an American artist who studied illustration in the UK. It's a book for reading aloud to young children, but will be enjoyed equally by older children and adults.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 23, 2011

Reviews

[Andrew Davies]

In contrast to Michael Rosen's villainous, scary bear who families hunt and flee from, the grizzly bear in Suzanne McGinness' 'My Bear Griz' is young Billy's best friend. They go exploring together and sit staring at the stars; they share jokes, secrets and play hide and seek; they eat together (peanut butter sandwiches, so Billy tells us) and sleep together (Billy is drawn taking a nap on Griz's shoulders). On the final page we retreat from Billy's imagination to reality and discover that Griz is, in fact, a teddy bear after all. Children at EYFS and Nursery level love the make-believe of pretending everyday objects are in fact something related but far more exciting: they might even find it far easier than adults to invent their own similar version of Griz, using a toy or classroom object in their own life. Maybe they could suggest what the forest of trees - or Griz's huge footprints - might be in real-life if we stepped back from Billy's imaginary world a bit sooner. For slightly older children, it might further be interesting to ask them if they can predict the revelation of the final page: are things really all they seem? The contrast in the illustrations adds to the effect: the huge grizzly bear pushes the text to the sides of the page....until the final page where the teddy almost hides in the page's blankness. The illustrations also make clever use of a variety of font styles and sizes, with a child's handwriting used for Billy's speech, with laughter, snoring and secrets scrawled across the page randomly rather than in speech bubbles, whilst newspaper text is collaged in places and the stars have been decorated with constellation diagrams, perhaps a subtle indication that there are great and little bears to be found in astronomy too. Maybe children could use their imagination to ask where bears (or other animals) could be found at home, in school or in the world; maybe older children at KS1 could also discuss things they are afraid of: are our fears primarily psychological, and inside our heads rather than outside them? With care, such a positive mindset might help children carry fewer fears into their older years and even adulthood.

[Jennifer]

Bears, imagination, and frienship. Great for a preschool story time!

[Stacey]

This should be perfect for my last book of bear storytime. Short, fun, easy to follow.

[Doret]

Aston loves his grandads and the music they play. Grandad Harry from England plays the trumpet. Grandad Roy from Trinidad plays the steel drums. Aston's spends a lot of time with them learning how to play each instrument.

On first glance I thought this text heavy story would be better as an early reader . Though once I read it I loved the fullness of a picture book for this story. When the band that was suppose to play at Aston's school cancels, he turns to his grandads for help. This is a very fun story, on almost every page Aston and his grandads are smiling. The parents are in a few spreads as well. Benjamin does an excellent job of making this feel like a family. Chamberlain's beautiful, open, light, and expressive illustrations compliment the text very well.

It's difficult to find picture books that feature a biracial character. So it was very nice to discover My Two Grandads. I absolutely love that the story is never about identity. It's all about Ashton's love of his grandads and music. Ashton is simply Ashton.

The fact that this picture book is from across the pond, and includes lines like - Can I have a go? or Well, you're a big lad now, so I think you'll have enough puff ", make it that much cooler.

[Amanda]

Review originally posted at www.apatchworkofbooks.com


Another simple story with a big impact. Billy loves bears, but he really, really loves his best friend Griz. Griz is a bear that goes everywhere with Billy. He goes exploring with him, takes naps with him, and tells funny jokes. Griz is also Billy's teddy bear, but shhhhh.....don't tell Griz that!

A really sweet look at the power of imagination, this one would be great for toddlers that are learning about friendship. It may even convince them that playing alone can be just as fun as playing with mom and dad!

Would also make a nice storytime read for your younger crowd.

[Janet]

Wonderful use of imagination! Billy loves bears and he and his pet gizzly bear are off on adventures and yes, you probably understand that this is make believe, but follow the illustrations and you will find out just who Griz is--someone Billy loves very much. I loved the fact that Billy is off on his adventures with a hat on his head made from newspaper! This is a super beginning for this author/illustrator. Will anticipate her future books.

If I could award the Caldecott this would be the one given in a few days. This is such a "tight" story of narrative, illustration, and imagination.

[Christine Turner]

Billy has a bear called Griz, a Grizzly Bear. And the two friends have all kinds of wonderful adventures together. They go exploring, they play hide and seek, they eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches, share secrets and tell jokes. They even go out at night to do some star-gazing--and their favorite constellation is the Great Bear of course.


Subjects

Bears -- Juvenile fiction

Teddy bears -- Juvenile fiction

Imagination -- Juvenile fiction

This book would be good for toddler storytime.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance]

“My name is Billy and I love bears. My bear’s name is Griz because he is a Grizzly Bear.”

Billy and Griz do lots of things together, like playing hide-and-go-seek and looking at the stars and telling jokes.

This is a book with illustrations big enough for an enormous grizzly bear and his enormous adventures. Lovely ending, with the little boy dropping his stuffed grizzly bear as he heads toward home.

[Connie]

O.K., this is a really cute story about a little boy and his pretend friend grizzly bear, but the book is made to look like the boy has written little notes all over the books pages! This may appeal to children, but this is a librarian's nightmare! However, this would be a good book to share with kids old enough to have a lesson on how to treat their books, how to use the library,etc.

[Elisabeth]

Big bear, little boy, great illustrations. Spoiler alert (although if you've ever read any children's book of any kind, or ever read Calvin and Hobbes, you'll see this coming a mile away): Griz is a...TEDDY BEAR. Will use for Toddler storytimes. :)

[Magila]

3.5

I really, really wanted to love this book. Instead, I liked it ok and was really impressed by only the artwork and some of the minutia. The ending makes this book a winner, and it's good for boys and girls (though best suited for boys).

Recommend.

[Rachel]

I love the collage and pen and ink illustrations depecting Billy and his friend, Griz.

[Jesika La Bryer]

Copyright, 2011
This is a simple picture book about a little boy and his bear. There are very few words and great illustrations. It is a cute book, but I wouldn't use this in a classroom.

[Katie]

Love these illustrations! The author/illustrator is a Cleveland native.

[Marianne]

Imaginative story of a boy and his bear Griz. I'm not a fan of the child-like scribbles scattered throughout the book but Griz is wonderfully sketched.

[Jennifer]

Very cute. Sketches of his own comments on the sides of the illustrations. Would be great to read one on one.

[Fran]

This is a super sweet, super simple story about a boy and his bear. I have a strange affection for bear stories. They're just my favorite. :)

[Scottsdale Public Library]

A child's awesome favorite sidekick as he sees him.

-Monty K.

[Susan Dunn]

Great illustrations. Could be used for a "bears" storytime, but I'm going to use it for an "imagination" themed one.

[Jodie]

The drawings are very unique and could be used for a variety of art lessons. I enjoyed the story and younger readers will also. Appropriate for young readers.

[Karen Gibson]

Loved the surprise ending in this book. Great for teaching inferencing.

[Melinda Graham]

Great read-aloud book!

[Erin]

Very simple text, but the illustrations are lovely. Has a Calvin and Hobbes vibe between the boy and his bear.

[Virginia]

Really nice textured backgrounds with scribbles. Collage newspaper crown.

[Annie]

A good choice for bear storytime.

[Elizabeth]

Print awareness.

[Wendy]

Stunning picture book debut from Suzanne McGuinnes.