I Have a Little Problem, said the bear

by Heinz Janisch, Silke Leffler (Illustrator)

The bear has a problem, and absolutely everyone has the perfect remedy. The only trouble is, they're all in such a hurry to help, they have no time to find out what the bear's problem IS.

Everyone knows how it feels not to be listened to--especially children. Young readers will understand the bear's frustration completely as they enthusiastically join in the repeating refrains.

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

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Heinz Janisch is an Austrian author of children's books.

Reviews

[E8RaH!M · Rating 4 out of 5]

خرسی یک مشکلی داره و می‌خواد به بقیه بگه. اما هیچ کس کامل به حرفش گوش نمی‌ده. هر کسی قبل از دونستن مشکل و شنیدن حرف خرس یک نسخه‌ای میده.
تنها کسی که اجازه می‌ده خرس حرفش رو بزنه، مگسه!
مگسی که با خرس دوست می‌شه و می‌ره داخل غارِ خرس تا تنها نباشه و نترسه.

[Sedighe Vazehi · Rating 4 out of 5]

گوش دادن خیلی مهمه

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dear “book buddy” brought this book, one I might never have found, a delightful story about the need to really listen when someone is trying to tell you something. What a terrific story it would be to use when discussing listening respectfully. This bear has a little problem, but each person encountered in the story is so busy thinking that their area of expertise is just what the bear needs that he doesn’t get a chance to tell what the problem is. He gains a hat, a scarf, glasses, and so on, but finally, one good listener actually stops to listen. The illustrations are filled with the details of each encounter, while the bear stands quietly, not solving his “little problem” at all.

[Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT
20/10 WOULD RECOMMEND

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up, looked at the title and jacket, and immediately thought, "this looks foreign". Whaddya know, I was right. Janisch and Leffler are Austrian. Cool.

This was not what I was expecting. It won't be what kids are expecting, either, I'll bet. Bear has a problem (obviously). But no one will let him actually state what the problem is. They're too busy diagnosing it and trying to fix it without even listening, and before long Bear has boots, wings, a hat and scarf, and a pig on a chain--none of which help him with his problem.

What his actual problem is caught me by surprise. Kids will never guess it, but it makes for a satisfying ending. Very cute.

[Zack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute illustrations, but the story didn't do much for me.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

All about the challenges of really being heard :-)

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of those sweet books that is translated and published in English by North South. The art is delightful and filled with whimsey--one of my favorite styles. I felt for the poor bear to whom no one was listening and delighted in all the silly things he ended up with because others were trying to help and failing because they weren't listening. My only complaint is that the bear didn't solve his own problem. The ending is sweet, but a bit too soft.

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bear has a problem. Everyone is eager to share a solution to help Bear with his problem. Unfortunately, no one takes the time to listen to Bear's actual problem. No one has a good solution because no one actually knows what the problem is. How will Bear find a solution for this seemingly impossible problem?

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5

میفهمم که برای کودکان نوشته شده و باید در حد فهم اون‌ها باشه اما بنظرم خیلی جا داشت برای بهتر بودن.

گوش دادن بسیار مهمه اما وقتی خرس میره پیش دکتر و فروشنده و … خب این طبیعیه که اولین چیزی که به ذهن اونها می‌رسه، کمک تو حوزهٔ کاری خودشون باشه :)))
می‌خوام بگم خرس هم جاهای مناسبی رو برای کمک خواستن انتخاب نمی‌کرد!

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone please listen to this bear!
I loved watching the children's faces when I read this book. Charlotte was so worried about the bear.
I was surprised that neither of the kids said why didn't anyone listen to what the bear wanted to say.
It was a good opportunity for us to talk about listening.

[Sofía Rodríguez Pinedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is amazing how the author shows how things really are when talking to people and how little they care about what are you talking about. However there is always going to be a friend who really cares about you and takes his/her time to actually listen to you.

[شایسته · Rating 4 out of 5]

اگه لزوم شنیدن رو بفهمیم، نیاز دیگری رو به شنیده شدن درک کنیم، بلد باشیم بشنویم و شبیه مگسه کمک کنیم یا شبیه اون خرگوشه توی کتاب خرگوش گوش داد فقط و فقط بشنویم، آه چقدر کمتر تنهایی تجربه می‌شه بعدش توی دنیا. چقدر جای امن‌تری می‌شه بعدش دنیا.

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bear has a problem. Everyone has a solution.

[Melana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet book reminding us to listen and to be mindful of others. And to not interrupt people when they are trying to speak to us! Also wonderful illustrations.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked when the bear sat with the fly, but too many visits around town. Kids lost interest.

[Şengül · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ayıyı sevdim (E. 3,5 yaş)

[skcocnaH · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Ezo Orlando · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hikaye daha iyi olabilirdi. Ama çizimleri inanılmazdı. Çok hoştu bayıldım çizimlere

[Alejandra RL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reseña próximamente

[امیرمحمد · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلی خوب و جالب، گرچه تکرار جملات و اتفاقات ممکن است برای کودک اندکی حوصله‌سربر شود.

[Cristina Quattrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice message about active listening 💕

[Mahtab Aramesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب درباره یه خرسیه که میخواد حرف دلشو بگه و نمیذارن . درباره هنر گوش کردن و همدلی

[Gabriel Tiradentes]

meu primeiro livro lido em alemão (usando bastante dicionário), muito fofinho!!!

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't a big fan of the illustrations. I did enjoy the story. I thought the various people bear ran across become long and drawn out after four. I was able to easily ask my five-year-old about the moral of the story, how the bear felt and why and how he thought the bear felt when the book ended.

It was an interesting story and having a bear as the main character is always a joy.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great vintage illustrations. It's all about listening

[Catherine Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a bear who has a little problem. He tries to talk about his problem with someone, but everyone just gives a solution very quickly without listening to his problem. They give the bear a lot of things but none of these is what he needs. Finally, the bear finds a someone who listens to his problem, and becomes his friend. This is a great book for teaching problem solving and the importance of listening. Children are also usually surrounded by a busy people who would try to solve the problem for children quickly without asking them what's the problem. The repetition and intriguing plot allows children to think about the important of listening before taking actions to help someone. They can also practice problem solving. Visuals of problems and solutions can be provided for children to discuss and match. For children with special needs, sign languages of key words should be modeled for them to understand the story, and when doing the problem-solution matching game, "my turn" and "your turn" cards may be provided for them to practice turn-taking and interact with the adult or peers.

This book might be put on the bookshelves of social-emotional-problem solving, literacy, and social studies-jobs.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about a bear with a problem and nobody will listen to him. Discouraged, he finds help from the smallest of sources. The illustrations are wonderful, and the narrative is repetitive, effectively showing how everyone in town is the same in their desire to help, but inability to actually listen to the bear.

Translated into English from the original German, this is one book where I think the essence of the story is not lost through the translation. We enjoyed reading this book together and we've read it a couple of times.

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! My daughter pointed out right away that no one was letting the bear talk...I think too often I don't let my kids talk because I'm anticipating their needs and expediting our life it seems when more often than not I just need to hear them stutter, start over and overly detail whatever they have to say! Great reminder to us moms who probably do have all the right answers but still need to hear what the problem is.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear just wants someone to listen to him, but everyone jumps to conclusions when he starts to tell them he has a problem. In their haste to help, they only make bear feel ignored, until he meets fly. I would like to try this with a preschool storytime, or early elementary. The illustrations are enjoyable.