Addis Berner Bear Forgets

by Joel Stewart

When Addis Berner Bear arrives in the city, it's so big and confusing, and so loud and fast, that he forgets why he has come. With help from some – and hindrance from others – Addis Berner Bear must rediscover why he's there and what he's supposed to do. His great realization – he's a trumpet player – gives true meaning to his life and brings pleasure and joy to others. This artfully illustrated, pitch-perfect tale about belonging and staying true to one's personal creative mission, whatever it may be, will uplift any reader who has ever felt, like Addis, a bit lost in this big, loud, fast, and confusing world.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Joel Stewart is a writer and illustrator of children's books. He spent the earliest years of his life in a commune in the wilds of Yorkshire, and spent the rest of his childhood in the north of England. He now lives and works in London UK.

Alongside his own picture books and chapter books, he is known internationally as an illustrator for contemporary authors such as Julia Donaldson, Carol Ann Duffy, Jeanne Willis, and Michael Rosen, and for classic texts by authors such as Hans Christian Andersen, Lewis Carroll and J.M Barrie.

He is also known as the creator/director of the hit children's animation series The Adventures of Abney & Teal, which he created, co-wrote, and directed under the guidance of Anne Wood and Ragdoll Productions LTD (creators of Tellytubbies and In the Night Garden).

Joel works in a variety of media, including digital, always with a love of drawing at the centre.

Reviews

[Siusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely pictures, haunting yet cute

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit this review is purely from me. My daughter was not all that into it, but I really liked it :)

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addis Berner Bear arrived in the city on a snowy winter day. He quickly became lost in the big and confusing, loud and fast city. It was so loud and fast that Addis forgot everything he left behind and why he’d come to the city. He wandered the streets trying to remember why he had come, but no one could tell him because they had forgotten too. And then he was robbed of his only possession, a shiny trumpet in a black case. As he tells his tale of woe to his friend, a homeless woman in tattered clothes, she discovers the reason Addis came to the city: to play a concert in the park! And so he plays and “the music was big and confusing, loud and fast.” And Addis Berner Bear never forgot that day.

This endearing story focuses on the search for purpose and the desire to belong. Addis Berner Bear learns that it’s ok to get lost and it’s even better to find yourself again. The story is told in just a few words per page. The sparse nature of the text allows the reader to step inside of the isolation of being alone in a big city. The watercolor illustrations are loose and expressive. Stewart doesn’t shy away from the less appealing parts and citizens of the city. The rundown areas and homeless people are included in the bright illustrations, but they are portrayed sympathetically. The city itself is like a character in the story.

Full Review from Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dylan's not a huge fan, but I adore this book!

[Marie]

A picture book for adults.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely some heavy themes in this one, mostly contained in the illustrations, but I liked that it also showed the better parts of humanity.

[Tina B]

"subtle illustration clues, bears, trumpets, cities, homeless"