
A parent might reach for this book when their child is captivated by things that feel a little bit scary but are ultimately safe and funny. It's perfect for navigating the thrill of suspense in a comforting way. The story follows young Eddie on a picnic with his mom. He keeps spotting a giant bear, but his very busy mother doesn't believe him until the bear is right behind her! This book masterfully builds tension that resolves not in a scare, but in a shared laugh, making it ideal for preschoolers. It's a delightful read-aloud that validates a child's perceptions and shows that even big, scary-looking things can have surprisingly gentle intentions.
There are no sensitive topics in this book. It is a secular story that addresses the common childhood experience of fear and not being believed by adults through a lighthearted, fictional lens. The potential threat is revealed to be harmless.
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Sign in to write a reviewA 4 or 5-year-old who delights in dramatic irony and being 'in on the secret'. It's an excellent choice for a child who sometimes feels that grown-ups don't listen, as it validates the child protagonist's perspective in a very rewarding way. Also great for children who enjoy books with rhythm, rhyme, and repetition.
No special preparation is needed. The book can be read cold. The friendly, slightly goofy illustrations of the bear ensure the story never becomes truly frightening. A parent can enhance the fun by reading Eddie's parts with increasing urgency and the mother's parts with a calm, distracted tone. A parent has just experienced their child insistently telling them something they believe is imaginary (e.g., 'There's a monster in my room!'), and the parent has been dismissive. This book can open a playful conversation about listening to and acknowledging a child's feelings and perceptions, even when they seem fantastical.
A 3-year-old will latch onto the rhyming, repetitive text ('It's a bear! It's a bear!') and enjoy the game of spotting the bear in the pictures. A 5 or 6-year-old will more fully appreciate the humor of the dramatic irony (knowing more than the mom) and the funny subversion of expectations at the end.
Unlike many stories where a child's warnings are false alarms, this book vindicates the child protagonist. The humor stems from the adult's obliviousness, not the child's fantasy. This powerful validation, combined with Jez Alborough's masterfully paced, rhyming text, makes it a uniquely satisfying and fun read-aloud experience.
A young boy, Eddie, and his mother go for a picnic in the woods. Eddie repeatedly warns his mother about a giant bear he sees lurking nearby, but she is too preoccupied with her book and the food to pay him any mind. The suspense builds with each rhyming refrain as the bear gets progressively closer, a fact clear to the reader but not the mother. The climax occurs when the mother finally turns to see the bear looming over them, only for the bear to politely ask for a piece of their pie.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.