Dear Bear [Paperback]

Joanna Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1994 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Katie is afraid of the bear that lives under the stairs in her house, until they exchange letters and she finally gets to meet him.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Katie just knows that a scary bear lives in the closet under the stairs, waiting to "jump out and grab her." At her mother's suggestion, she writes him a letter requesting that he go away. The next morning, she receives a reply, noting that Bear will follow her advice and take a much-needed vacation; an ominous P.S. reads: "Back Monday." Further correspondence leads to an invitation to tea at Bear's lair. Opening the closet door at the appointed time, a timid Katie encounters an appetizing tea party spread out before a large stuffed bear, beside which lies a note asking Katie if it can come and live with her. Harrison's animated art, distinguished by refreshing, cheerful colors and lots of sunny details, plays a key role in the success of this entertaining and subtly reassuring story. The antics of Katie's cat, who makes an appearance on most pages, are particularly diverting. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?In this English import, Katie is convinced that a bear lives under the stairs in her house. At her mother's suggestion, she writes him a letter to "tell him to go away." The next morning she receives a response from the bear, saying that he's gone on vacation and will be back Monday. When she reluctantly returns from school on Monday she finds a gift from him: a bear in a snow-filled glass dome. When she learns that he has a cold, Katie and her mother prepare a tray for him. The little girl then receives an invitation to tea, and when she arrives under the stairs, she finds a large teddy bear sitting on a note asking to live with her from now on. The short, simple text is carefully placed on the page so as not to detract from the pictures, which essentially tell the story. The cartoon illustrations are rendered in bright, clear colors. The layout varies; several pictures are full-page, while some are half-or third-page pictures. Katie's fear is effectively conveyed by her wide-eyed expression and furrowed brow, and large shadows add to her fearfulness. The huge bear she imagines is humorously portrayed, e.g., camping or snorkeling on vacation, blowing his nose on a towel. Many children will identify with Katie and her fears, and find some comfort in the solution. Similar in concept to Dick Gackenbach's Harry and the Terrible Whatzit (Clarion, 1979), this book will have bibliotherapeutic uses. It is also a good story for one-on-one or group sharing.?Cynthia K. Richey, Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lerner Pub Group (L) (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876149654
• ISBN-13: 978-0876149652
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Obsessions > Teddy Bears

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, March 19, 2006

By 

L. Machado "Cuban girl" (Miami) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dear Bear (Paperback)

I teach first grade and used this book for a week's lesson in language arts. The students loved the book and enjoyed the ending thoroughly. The book shows kids how fun writing letters can be and how important it is to communicate their thoughts through writing.

"Dear Bear" is a delightful book that I enjoyed just as much as my first graders did.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love love love this book!!, May 25, 2004

By 

Maatka (Baton Rouge, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear Bear (Paperback)

A little girl is convinced that a terrifying dangerous bear lives under the stairs in her home. Her parents deal with her fear in a very creative way: they suggest that she write a letter to the bear asking him to go away. What develops is a friendship written back and forth through letters from the "bear" to the girl and vice versa. My favorite page is the last page! The bear writes the girl a last letter and invites her to tea under the stairs. The little girl is nervous, but gets all dressed up and goes. She walks into the little cubby underneath the stairwell and discovers a really cute teddy bear set up by a tea set and another note asking to come live with her (he's tired of living under the stairs). So very cute and a very creative way of helping a child conquer her fears.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very cute book, October 19, 2011

By 

Bay Area Mom (San Ramon, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dear Bear (Paperback)

This is a cute and delightful book. My daughter brought a copy home from the library one day. I read this to her. She and I liked the book so much that I bought a copy to keep for our personal library. It has cute illustrations and a very sweet story.