Where Bear?
By Sophy Henn
I’m staring out of the window at yet ANOTHER snow storm, and I’m wondering, probably like a ton of east coast people right about now, “Where Liz?”. Where does one go when you’re not content to be where you are? Where do you go?
Winter is long and harsh this year, but there are a slew of picture books out there that can make the down time fun and productive. And these wonderful books can certainly take you on a journey to places you’re never been, with people you’ve never met.
Former president Harry Truman used to call his places, the “foxholes of the mind.”- places to visit in memory that are comfy and familiar. And in this picture book, it’s someplace new and exciting!
All that’s needed is a little planning – just like boy and bear in “Where Bear?”
Sophy Henn, in her debut picture book, introduces a bear and boy that are fast friends. Then, things change, as that has always been the guaranteed state of the world, right? Things do change. How do you explain THAT to a child or here, a bear, that craves permanence and stability, yet his bearishness and bigness needs a big place to do both. Answer? You find the best possible next step or place to be. And what’s needed here is a bit of research on the part of both boy and bear – together. They search in a variety of settings from jungles to zoos, from circuses to woods and into dark caves. No fit is found….until they share a cold, blue ICE pop. Ah, now you’re onto something. Colder climes are just the ticket for this polar bear.
Remember Elsa, the lion cub, in the movie, “Born Free?”It was made from the book by Joy Adamson of she and her husband George’s experiences with the rescued and domesticated lion cub, Elsa that had to be retrained to live again in the wild. It was translated successfully into a movie version. I saw it again the other night.
This picture book, “Where Bear?”reminded me of that scenario in a much simpler set of settings. But the themes are the same; helping the one we have been close to, and no longer can be, through the transition phase to a newer and better life.
Things do keep changing; it’s a life lesson for kids – and adults. Cubs turn into big white polar bears and boys grow up as well. But as much as things change, some things are forever if we make the effort – and that is key. Things like friendship can last through all sort of life changes, if we make the effort to stay in touch. Even though we are no longer living physically close to that bear or person we know and love, if we have shared something of ourselves with them, they remain a part of who we are and will be.
And what about shared vacations together? But, where to go? I’m sure they’ll figure it out. Where, Bear? How about someplace warm and sunny?
Matt Monro – Born Free – YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISWOrI0WaLs
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