Customer Reviews

The First Bear in Africa!

5 star:		(2)
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This book was inspired by a Safari to Kenya and Tanzania. I was part of the group that travelled with Ms. Ichikawa to Africa. The beauty of the land, the warmth of the people, and the magic of the wildlife is all recreated here... of course, in a simplified manner that makes it accessible to children of all ages. The First Bear in Africa is a story of two children learning about each other's culture. Since there are no bears in Africa, this additional clever twist adds another layer to a wonderful story. Thank you, Ms. Ichikawa, for a magical memory of an incredible adventure.

I don't remember how I was referred to this book, but I am so glad we read it. The story is very well-written, engaging even for my 2 and 4 year old children.

The story is written in first person, told from the perspective of an African child, whose family lives on the savannah plains. Some caucasian tourists come for a visit, and the young girl forgets her teddy bear. Meto, the young boy, then has quite an adventure as he runs across the savannah, trying to catch up to the girl and return her animal to her.

This book is an absolute must to parents or teachers of young children (ages 4-8 in particular). We are honored to have shared the story together. We especially enjoyed learning the Swahili words for "Goodbye" and for various savannah animals.