Meet Bear
Greg Foley, a creative author and illustrator has created a
set of books about a little bear. In these four books, the author’s theme for
his stories is about the importance of friendship. Since I’m a librarian, I
don’t purchase a lot of books. I check them out and read them over and over again from the library.
But if ever there were books to purchase, these would be the ones to have on
your child’s bookshelf, all four of them in fact. They are wonderful!
Who is Greg Foley, he is a young guy who grew up in Austin
Texas. He comes from a family of educators and is also one himself. His first
picture book, Thank you Bear, won the prestigious Charlotte Zolotow Award for
outstanding writing in a picture book. His background is art and his
illustrations are done in line art, which are then digitally rendered from
pencil sketches. While they are so simple and there isn’t a lot on each page,
they are very sweet and really tell the story.
Thank you Bear
(Published in 2007)
Thank you Bear was Greg’s first book introducing the
character bear. Bear is a sweet
little simple fellow. He finds a small box that he thinks will be perfect for
his friend mouse. Unfortunately he gets a lot of criticism from his other
friends about the box not being that great. It’s a box. But once mouse sees the
box, he loves it. In this story we learn about the importance of true
friendship.
Don’t worry bear (Published in 2008)
In his next story bear befriends a caterpillar that is busy
making her cocoon. Bear doesn’t understand the importance of the cocoon and
worries about the caterpillar because he can’t see her while she is inside of
the cocoon. She tells him not to worry, that he will see her again soon. But he
just doesn’t understand. Will he ever see his friend the caterpillar again?
Once again, the author has created another simple but lovely story about friendship.
Good luck Bear (Published in 2009)
In Foley’s third story, Good luck Bear, we learn
about luck. Bear is trying to find a four-leaf clover because he knows that
will bring him luck. But none of his friends are willing to help him look for
it, except of course mouse. Who in the end finds something even better than the
four-leaf clover? You will have to read the story to see.
Make a wish bear (Published in 2012)
In Foley’s last installment of Bear, the importance of
friendship is stressed yet again. Bear makes a wish upon a star and waits for
his wish to come true. Try to guess what that wish might be. It has to do with
all of his friends.
Truly these stories are just fabulous and I’m eagerly
awaiting more bear books from this talented author and illustrator, Greg Foley.
If you want to know more about him check out his website at:
Personally I can’t wait to see what Greg Foley creates next…
