Goodbye, Bear
Ratings1
Average rating5
15
Ratings1
Average rating5
A heartfelt story, deftly written and beautifully illustrated by the inimitable Jane Chapman. "I miss Bear..." sniffed Mole, "but I know he wouldn't want us to be sad." "How can we feel happy?" puzzled Beaver. "Everything is different now." Bear died on a Friday, as sun speckled the grass and caterpillars nibbled the leaves. Beaver and Mole are devastated by the loss of their friend. They share their sadness and anger, but find joy in their memories and stories of Bear. Together they decide to finish Bear's treehouse only to discover that he had a surprise waiting for them all along. One that they will carry in their hearts for ever. It can be difficult to know what to do when someone dies. Grief is all-consuming, complex and powerful. This uplifting, gentle and reassuring story about the death of a loved one encourages those who have lost, both young and old, to celebrate and remember their loved one, while also finding solitude in friendship and community during times of hardship. The ideal companion for readers of Badger's Parting Gift, The Memory Tree and Michael Rosen's Sad Book.
Reviews with the most likes.
“Bear died on a Friday,
while sunlight speckled the grass...
and caterpillars nibbled leaves in the forest.”
Bear dies, and his friends, Beaver and Mole, must come to terms with their loss. The two miss him and talk about him, and do things in memory of him over the course of a year, and the loss of Bear becomes easier to accept.
A beautifully written and thoughtful look at loss for young children. The ending is transcendent.
