What do you think?
Rate this book
Physical & Behavioral Adaptation
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts
Spring has arrived and pollen is in the air. Baby Bear does not like the pollen—it sticks to his fur and makes him itchy and sneezy. He’s allergic! Achoo! He just wishes the pollen were gone. But when his friends gather to tell him why they need pollen, Baby Bear learns that pollen is good for the forest and provides food for many animals, including him!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2015
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Shennen Bersani
46 books7 followersAward-winning children's book illustrator Shennen Bersani has two million copies of her illustrated books cherished and read by families throughout the world.
Shennen has been a freelance illustrator since 1989. She works primarily with colored pencils, sometimes using a mixed-media technique of colored pencils, crayon, and paint.
Shennen's art delivers a unique blend of realism, heartfelt emotion, love of nature, and life lessons for children of all ages. She lives with her family near Boston.
Shennen has been a freelance illustrator since 1989. She works primarily with colored pencils, sometimes using a mixed-media technique of colored pencils, crayon, and paint.
Shennen's art delivers a unique blend of realism, heartfelt emotion, love of nature, and life lessons for children of all ages. She lives with her family near Boston.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 10, 2015
An adorable book about pollen and how it benefits and affects us! Gorgeous illustrations and informative facts that my nature and science-loving kids enjoyed!
March 11, 2018
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts by Shennen Bersani is about a baby bear who comes out of his den in the spring, sneezing so much that he wishes pollen didn’t exist. When he meets up with his mom, she cleans him up and explains how important pollen is. Then he wanders around and meets all sorts of critters who explain why pollen is important to them too.
It’s a cute story with catchy language that is easy to understand and educational at the same time. It even has a “For Creative Minds” section at the end that has interesting information about allergies, pollination, and bees. A couple of activities about flower parts and pollinators make learning fun, and anyone can read more about allergies, pollen, insects, and bears if they look up resources listed in the bibliography that is included. The very best part of this book is its beautiful artwork. Happy pictures with bright colors and a swirling effect that mimics pollen in the air practically jump off every page.
Opinion:
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts is written for children ages 5-8, but I can’t imagine who wouldn’t love this book (no matter how old they are)! It is a fantastic multi-purpose book that is perfect for anyone who enjoys nature or wants to know more about pollen. The artwork is detailed enough that young children can picture walk themselves through the basic story. Parents can help their children learn the names of specific creatures that they may not have seen before or do not know yet. Anyone could use it as a guide to help others understand allergy symptoms better, what pollen is, and how it’s used in nature. The more I read this book and looked at its pictures, the more detail I saw and the more I learned. It was like taking a real nature walk outdoors and finding something new to explore with every next step.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer Age 12
It’s a cute story with catchy language that is easy to understand and educational at the same time. It even has a “For Creative Minds” section at the end that has interesting information about allergies, pollination, and bees. A couple of activities about flower parts and pollinators make learning fun, and anyone can read more about allergies, pollen, insects, and bears if they look up resources listed in the bibliography that is included. The very best part of this book is its beautiful artwork. Happy pictures with bright colors and a swirling effect that mimics pollen in the air practically jump off every page.
Opinion:
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts is written for children ages 5-8, but I can’t imagine who wouldn’t love this book (no matter how old they are)! It is a fantastic multi-purpose book that is perfect for anyone who enjoys nature or wants to know more about pollen. The artwork is detailed enough that young children can picture walk themselves through the basic story. Parents can help their children learn the names of specific creatures that they may not have seen before or do not know yet. Anyone could use it as a guide to help others understand allergy symptoms better, what pollen is, and how it’s used in nature. The more I read this book and looked at its pictures, the more detail I saw and the more I learned. It was like taking a real nature walk outdoors and finding something new to explore with every next step.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer Age 12
July 15, 2019
Spring is here. It’s allergy time. Baby Bear has itchy, watery eyes, and a runny nose. He sniffles and sneezes and scratches. His fur is covered in yellow pollen. Baby Bear is allergic to pollen. He wishes the pollen would all disappear.
Mother Bear explains that the world needs pollen for the plants and animals. Some animals eat pollen and others move it around to help pollinate plants. Many insects eat pollen. Spiders eats pollen caught in their webs. Honey bees, butterflies, bats and humming birds carry pollen from flower to flower pollinating the plants that grow fruits and berries.
Mother Bear’s lesson for Baby Bear explains why we need pollen and can’t do without it. Nobody likes allergies, but it might make the suffering more “bearable” knowing the world needs pollen.
Writer and illustrator, Shennen Bersani has done a great job in explaining why even pollen has its place in the world. In addition to Bear’s story, check the final pages of the book for a glossary and an education section called For Creative Minds. Helpful teaching activities about pollen and allergies are also available on line.
Mother Bear explains that the world needs pollen for the plants and animals. Some animals eat pollen and others move it around to help pollinate plants. Many insects eat pollen. Spiders eats pollen caught in their webs. Honey bees, butterflies, bats and humming birds carry pollen from flower to flower pollinating the plants that grow fruits and berries.
Mother Bear’s lesson for Baby Bear explains why we need pollen and can’t do without it. Nobody likes allergies, but it might make the suffering more “bearable” knowing the world needs pollen.
Writer and illustrator, Shennen Bersani has done a great job in explaining why even pollen has its place in the world. In addition to Bear’s story, check the final pages of the book for a glossary and an education section called For Creative Minds. Helpful teaching activities about pollen and allergies are also available on line.
September 4, 2021
An interesting way to teach kids about how different animals react to and interact with pollen.
March 22, 2022
Interesting quick story that explains what pollen is and who eats and spreads it around.
June 25, 2015
Allergies are so unpleasant and affect so many folks. Allergies to pollens are dreaded but few folks who are contending with this problem stop and think how thankful they should be for the pollens. In Achoo! Why Pollen Counts the young reader learns about allergies and also about the importance of pollen.
Personally, I'm one of those affected by pollens and I, like "Baby Bear," contend with the days of itching and sneezing during the pollen season. However, Baby Bear meets a variety of critters including spiders, butterflies, and small animals who each explain how pollen helps them.
The story is sweet and the illustrations absolutely wonderful. The lessons on the value of pollen and how it is spread and its purpose and action in the cycle of life are really good. I love, too, the "For Creative Minds" pages at the end of the book. These enable the parent or teacher to further expand the learning opportunity with more information and activities.
I have just one little question. Do animals in the wild experience allergic reactions to pollen? While it makes for a cute story and Baby Bear is charming, in a book that deals with educational insights, it is important not to introduce inaccurate information in the story line even for the sake of a sweet tale.
Love the book. Love the information. Absolutely love the illustrations!
I was provided a complimentary copy by Arbordale Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions are solely my own. I received no compensation for the review.
Personally, I'm one of those affected by pollens and I, like "Baby Bear," contend with the days of itching and sneezing during the pollen season. However, Baby Bear meets a variety of critters including spiders, butterflies, and small animals who each explain how pollen helps them.
The story is sweet and the illustrations absolutely wonderful. The lessons on the value of pollen and how it is spread and its purpose and action in the cycle of life are really good. I love, too, the "For Creative Minds" pages at the end of the book. These enable the parent or teacher to further expand the learning opportunity with more information and activities.
I have just one little question. Do animals in the wild experience allergic reactions to pollen? While it makes for a cute story and Baby Bear is charming, in a book that deals with educational insights, it is important not to introduce inaccurate information in the story line even for the sake of a sweet tale.
Love the book. Love the information. Absolutely love the illustrations!
I was provided a complimentary copy by Arbordale Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions are solely my own. I received no compensation for the review.
May 23, 2015
Baby Bear wakes up from his Winter nap and finds himself suffering from pollen allergy. The pine forest has clouds of pollen blown about in the warm Spring wind. The forest floor is coated with pine needles and a blanket of pollen. Baby Bear gets pollen on his face and fur, which has him sneezing and suffering from itchy watery eyes. When his forest friends explain that his symptoms are caused by pollen allergens, he says, "I don't like pollen". His friends and his Mother do a great job of explaining why pollen is so important to everyone, and they do it in such a kind and friendly way. Baby Bear realizes that he does like pollen after all. This book is quite different than most children's picture books. It's words take a topic of suffering and messy pollen and create a mood of smooth, warm, and friendly fun. It makes you want to be there, in this world of freshness, calm, and friendliness. The illustrations are also so unique, using a beautiful bedtime story style and look while appearing as a new type of classic art style of forest creatures. Baby Bear rolling around in a bed of clover is priceless. It's use of clouds of pollen and cute soft characters provide a smooth mesmerizing effect that other books cannot capture. This book will be a favorite daily reader and bedtime story for toddlers, pre-school, and K-3 grades. I must rate it five stars.
August 17, 2015
My Review: It was interesting to know that pollen is good for the forest and also provides food for many animals. Some types of pollen are light and float in the air, while some are heavier and cling to flowers. Many insects ear pollen, the spiders catch pollen in their web and eat it for dinner. The bees use pollen and nectar to make beebread. Ladybug snack on pollen in the fall, they find that it has plenty of protein to help them hibernate in the winter.
Also, it’s interesting to know that pollen floats high in the cloud. It clings to water, freezes, and form ice crystal. They grow, fall and form snowflakes. Pollen makes some humans and animals sneeze but it also provides food for many animals.
The last 4 pages include learning activities from understanding allergies, flower parts, pollination process, bees are the great pollinators pollinator matching – animals spreading pollen from flower to flower. Great illustrations which helps tell the story.
FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Arbordale Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.
Also, it’s interesting to know that pollen floats high in the cloud. It clings to water, freezes, and form ice crystal. They grow, fall and form snowflakes. Pollen makes some humans and animals sneeze but it also provides food for many animals.
The last 4 pages include learning activities from understanding allergies, flower parts, pollination process, bees are the great pollinators pollinator matching – animals spreading pollen from flower to flower. Great illustrations which helps tell the story.
FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Arbordale Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.
May 16, 2015
I had never really thought about how some animals might be allergic to pollen before reading this book. But Baby Bear's constant sneezing showed that some of them might be. As he complains about the pollen that is causing his discomfort, some of the other animals explain how they rely on pollen for food, and that pollen is present in some form in all four seasons. Plus, pollen is used for one of his favorite foods made by the bees. Baby Bear decides that a little discomfort isn't as big a deal as he originally thought. The illustrations are attractive, filled with rich colors, and four pages of learning activities at the end of the book add to its classroom usefulness. One of the best parts of the book is how Baby Bear changes his mind. What is one animal's annoyance is another one's livelihood.
June 29, 2015
This book handles an unusual but important topic in a child-friendly way. Any youngsters with allergies will relate to these animals, and learn more about allergens, and that pollen is very important to the ecosysem. Colorful illustrations have specks of pollen floating about the animals, and shows close-ups that children will enjoy. For example, most of us don't want to get near enough to a bee to examine it, but these mostly realistic paintings show lots of interesting detail.
November 27, 2015
Little bear is suffering from allergies and wonders why we need pollen. An accessible and appealing narrative about pollen in the ecosystem that preschoolers will appreciate.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews