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toebean5's review
4.0
Absolutely wonderful illustrations. Even though I like to pretend that death is not real and no one's bird will ever die, it is and they do- and this just puts it right out there, without any softening of the blow. But... in a way that feels right and appropriate.
jess64au's review
4.0
A quality production using textured paper and black and white illustrations. This books tells the journey of grief in an evocative tale. I would happily have this on a school library shelf.
trkravtin's review
A personal favorite. A tender, beautiful and soul sustaining treatment of death, grief and loss and moving through difficult emotions. For all ages.
mpplys's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
5.0
What a sweet, somber story about death, loss, grieving, and moving on. Admittedly, when I first opened this book I wasn't sure if I would like it. The fuzzy, muted, two-tone art didn't grab my attention, but I picked this up due to reviews from other librarians. The story hit me in the feels. Bear's best friend, a little bird, has died--and he misses his friend. But the only other animal that seems to symptahize with how he's feeling is the Wildcat, who Bear then decides to join as a vagabond band. The art matches the tone of the book perfectly. This would be a great book for teaching kids about death and grieving, with a positive ending that shows it's possible for life to continue on. -SKB
marywahlmeierbracciano's review
emotional
sad
5.0
Something about this book touched me deeply, and I broke down while reading it. Both the text and the illustrations of this story are gorgeous and delicate. A bear grieves the loss of his beloved friend, a little bird. The other animals don't understand his grief and are dismissive. He moves through a time of great sadness until, one day, he meets a passing wildcat, who helps him honor the little bird and finally lay him to rest. The wildcat's empathy allows the bear to fondly remember all of the good times he and the bird spent together. The bear and the little bird will always be friends, and now, the bear and the wildcat are friends, too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
ruthie_the_librarian's review
4.0
Beautiful, unusual story that deals with bereavement and grief. Lovely black and white illustrations.
alto's review
5.0
Part of my new hobby of collecting picture books as an affordable way of obtaining art books. This one really hit hard, constantly surprised at how much emotion can be contained in something so small.
madhamster's review
4.0
Bear's best friend, a little bird, dies. In his grief, Bear makes a beautiful box and lays the bird inside. He takes his box everywhere with him, but others don't understand when he shows them the contents. SO, he stays home alone and sad. Until the sun shines one day and, venturing outside, he meets a wildcat who does understand and helps Bear remember his friend.
Simple scratch-board-like illustrations in black and cream, with ocassional splashes of pink, perfectly convey the subdued mood of the story.
Simple scratch-board-like illustrations in black and cream, with ocassional splashes of pink, perfectly convey the subdued mood of the story.
mat_tobin's review
5.0
One morning, Bear was crying. His best friend, a little bird, was dead. Not able to understand nor wanting to face the loss, he shuts off from the outside world within his house and lets grief consume him. It is also when Spring arrives that ventures outside only to come across a wildcat who music rekindles the love that Bear held for bird and he is able to move on to his next adventure.
How people are able to capture and share the idea of grief and the coping that can come afterwards with such poetry in both words and pictures is beyond me. The illustrations, almost like woodcuts in their charcoal format are almost dream-like in their quality and the words are short, concise...touching. It's a perfect little book.
How people are able to capture and share the idea of grief and the coping that can come afterwards with such poetry in both words and pictures is beyond me. The illustrations, almost like woodcuts in their charcoal format are almost dream-like in their quality and the words are short, concise...touching. It's a perfect little book.
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