There once was a bear who liked to STARE. Bear doesn't mean to be rude, he's just curious ...but nobody likes being stared at and it soon gets Bear into trouble. Luckily there's a goggly-eyed frog to set Bear straight!
Duncan Beedie is an author and illustrator with more than fourteen years’ experience working in children’s media. He began his career in children’s TV as an animator before branching into design and animation for websites, games, and educational apps. He was a doodler from a very early age and has fond memories of being sprawled on his parents’ living-room floor drawing for hours. He lives in Bristol, England, with his wife, daughter, and tirelessly playful springer spaniel.
This story is suitable for children aged 3 upwards, possibly with an upper limit of Year 1. It tells the story of a bear who stares at everyone, causing them to shy away – and he’s not sure why. With a bit of help, he realises that “I don’t know what to say to anyone, and before I’ve had a chance to think, it’s too late”. He later encounters a river and finds a “green bear” staring back at him (his own reflection), and realises that he can smile. He starts smiling at everyone and suddenly life is a little friendlier and easier, culminating in the conclusion that “sometimes a smile is all you need”.
The book would suit a PSHE lesson about shyness, confidence, and others’ perceptions of you. It’s probably best to emphasise the message that it’s okay not to smile, and it’s okay not to feel happy sometimes and talking about your worries is a good thing (see ‘Ruby’s Worry’ for a good book about this). It’s also worth noting that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover: the bear was friendly, but didn’t look it, because he was nervous.
Elif çok sevdi ama ben... Okuması o kadar zevk vermedi ki :/ Çevirisi bir tuhaf geldi ve itiraf edeyim bir müddet kitaplıktan kaldırmayı bile düşündüm :) Ama Elife kıyamadım, o kadar sevdi ki :)
A quiet bear learns about making friends in this gentle, humorous story. Simple artwork and a sweet message about kindness make it ideal for preschoolers.
Tbh the illustrations weren't really my style but with a different and more detailed approach, this could've easily been an all-time favorite especially because the story and particularly the last few pages, was aww!!
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, everyone! Our book today is The Bear Who Stared by Duncan Beedie, a cute story about a socially awkward bear learning how to make friends.
Bear has a bit of a people-skills problem: he is curious and wants to make friends, but he is too shy to say anything, so he has a habit of staring. It annoys and bothers the animals around him, but he doesn’t know how to interact otherwise. Fortunately, a frog helps him find that a smile and a greeting can make all the difference when trying to make new friends, and Bear finds that when he has the courage to be friendly, he is met with friendliness in return.
This was a sweet book that helps with a very specific, though common, social issue that children sometimes have. Bear doesn’t mean to be awkward, he’s just shy, and this book can help children who experience similar shyness, as well as helping children to recognize shyness in others. It’s well-executed, with great illustrations and a good length for baby bookworms. We liked this one! Baby Bookworm approved!
I liked the concept, but I am thinking probably parents will be more interested in the concept that staring can be seen by others as possibly rude. Children are curious, and I am not sure that many are even aware when they are staring. Children learn a lot by watching the world around them, including other people and animals. But this book does tackle the topic head on and come out successful in conveying the interpersonal stresses created by the bear's staring at other forest animals, and the frog's helpful suggestion to smile makes a world of difference in how his neighbors perceive Bear.
Cümeleler biraz uzun olmakla birlikte (okumayı zorlaştırıyorsu sanki) minnoş bir kitap. Adından da belli olduğu üzere utangaçlık teması. Gerçekçi işlenmişti, zira utangaç insanlar gerçekten ne diyeceğini bulana kadar iş işten geçiyor ve kendilerini insanlara sadece bakarken buluyorlar. Monti’nin de derdi buydu. Eğlenceli ve faydalı.
Have you ever entered a social situation and experienced a loss for words? Were you unsure of what to say in a new environment or how should you introduce yourself to people? ⠀ It can be hard for adults and even more challenging for children. Sometimes we assume that children know what to do in all social situations. Books can provide a wonderful tool to model and teach appropriate social skills and initiate discussions and questioning surrounding social scenarios. ⠀ The Bear Who Stared provides a platform for discussions surrounding making new friends. This book would be great for children of many ages as they navigate meeting new people and building friendships. ⠀ In this story, the poor bear has quite the serious stare when he encounters new insects and animals throughout the beginning of this story. They are easily offended by his staring but this poor bear doesn’t know how to make new friends. You will have to read this book to discover what happens to the bear who stared when he learns about the power of a simple smile. ⠀ 💡This book is a great addition to my list of “Beginning of the School Year” read alouds. I think many students can relate to this bear as they encounter new people and are entering new social situations in the classroom, during lunch, on the playground, etc. After reading this story, engage your students in discussions about how to be a good friend, inclusion and the power of a simple smile. ⠀ Whether this book is shared at school or at home, I know you will find comfort in this story of a bear on his journey to making friends. I highly recommend adding this book to your collection! The Bear Who Stared by Duncan Beedie @duncandraws77. Published by Little Bee Books @littlebeebooks.
Such a lovely book that children will delight in. My daughter and I enjoyed staring each other out to see who would look away first!
The Bear Who Stared tells the story of curious Bear who is fascinated by the creatures he sees around him. He stares at them but this makes them feel very uneasy. Bear doesn't mean to upset anyone, he's just a little shy and can't think what to do quick enough. Frog helps him to discover that a smile goes a long way and gives Bear the confidence to say hello to the creatures he sees.
The illustrations have a warm, earthy feel to them and are perfect for a woodland setting. My daughter particularly loved the use of eyebrows to covey the feelings of each animal's emotions; wow Daddy Ladybird looked particularly cross!
We actually discovered this book after reading the latest in the series No Sleep For Bear. We loved it so much that we borrowed The Bear Who Stared from the library. We'd highly recommend both books as brilliant reads.
Ik moet zeggen dat ik het wel erg jammer vond dat het boek vrij saai is vertaald naar: Sebastian Beer. Waarom niet gebruiken wat de Engelsen gebruiken alleen dan in NL? De beer die staart, of De starende Sebastian Beer, of Sebastian Beer de starende beer. Om maar een paar suggesties te noemen. Het verhaal zelf was wel leuk al vond ik het ietwat TE magisch hoe alles maar wordt gefixed met een glimlachje. Tuurlijk dat is wat je moet doen. *rolt met haar ogen* Ik denk misschien dat een sorry ook helpt. Plus, ik denk dat als iemand naar me staart + glimlacht ik echt een flinke stap weg zou doen, want creepy. :P Maar ach, toch een aardig boek over een beer die verlegen is.
Great illustrations, and a good introduction for kiddos on how it is considered impolite (by some) to stare, even though we are all curious and (maybe) naturally inclined to do so.
Did not like the recommendation (spoiler) that a smile can turn everything around. Perhaps that's true, but shifting social norms have helped me to reconsider whether smiling is needed all of the time. Teaching young kiddos to smile when they are curious may not be a message I agree with, exactly.
That said, the rhyming lends itself to a good read-aloud, and I like the use of color.
Bear is a very curious animal and likes to stare at things. Unfortunately, this makes the other animals uncomfortable. No one likes to be stared at. Bear doesn't want to just stare, the problem is he doesn't know how to engage with others in a friendly manner. "It's just that I don't know what to say to anyone, and before I've had a chance to think, it's too late." Luckily, there is a very helpful frog that gives the bear some very valuable advice.
i do love this book ...the illustrations are so fun. now which do i love more the lumberjack one or this one? got one more to read at the moment. "Molly's Moon Mission" and already read "The Lumberjack's Beard". so fun. hardbacks are the best. so good. found this one Amazon. a used book. new to DB's books. so fun. get to reading folks. go on. enjoy!!
My storytime littles had some fun making our "staring" and "smiling" faces as we read this book together. From ladybugs to badgers, birds to frogs, and a shimmery green bear in a puddle, nobody likes to be stared at! But, sometimes we can't quite think of what to say when we meet someone. The littles in my storytimes loved how the Bear who stared solved his problem - and I think you will, too!
Adorable book . My son now understands what a reflection is, and to not stare but smile instead. I love a book that at the end my children have take. Away a lesson from it. This book is a must for young kids.