The Bear in My Family
“We live with a bear!” a boy insists. The bear that sleeps in the bedroom next to his is loud, bossy, and strong. His parents act like the bear is a member of the family, and he wonders why they can’t see the truth. But when a trio of big kids order him off a swing, the bear roars loudly, scaring the bullies away, and then uses its strong arms to give swing pushes. The bear dispenses band aids when needed, eats food the boy doesn’t like off his plate, and gives bear hugs. The large dark grey bear pictured throughout the book eventually takes the form of a human big sister, saying “I told you I’m NOT a bear!” With a smile, the boy declares that not only is she a bear, but so is he, and the two siblings roar in unison. Brief lines of speech bubble dialogue and short first-person statements from the young narrator are combined with soft-colored digital illustrations incorporating a variety of suggested textures and showing a light brown-skinned family that appears Asian to tell a story full of gentle humor, warmth, and emotional honesty. ©2021 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-6
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Families
Imagination/Imaginary Play
Siblings
Diversity subject:
Asian
Publishers:
Dial, Penguin Random House
Publish Year: 2020
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780525555827
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Tatsukawa