The
Bear Who Didn't Like Honey
By Barbara Maitland
Review
by: Lori
Plach
How
often do we have a preconceived notion that we aren't going to like
something before we even try it? Is it sometime out of fear that we don't
take. Children will see themselves in the adventures of Little Bear in this
book. A fear of the dark is something that many children have to face.
In this book written by Barbara Maitland and
illustrated by Odilon
Moraes, Little Bear learns a very important lesson. He learns that he can
be a brave bear when he has to be. He makes up excuses after excuses
rather than facing his fears straight forward. Little Bear has to face
his worst fears that of sleeping in the dark and learning to fish. He
claims that he doesn't like honey when its his turn to gather honey from
a nest near a cave. His brother and sisters call him a Scaredy Bear
whenever he fails to do something which they can do. He denies being
scared at all.
He sets off for the woods looking for some sort of
good to fill his
rumbling tummy. But he cannot find a food which will satisfy his palate
better than honey would. The other forest animals which he encounters
have never heard of a bear who didn't like honey. He hears the whimper of a
small cub hanging onto a thin branch at the very top of a very tall
tree. Little Bear scales the tree and rescues the small cub much to its
mother's delight. She comments that Little Bear is very brave. Little
Bear doesn't see his own bravery however, the mother of the small cub
teaches him that even though sometimes we are all afraid, it matters most
that we do are best and at least try.
On his way home, Little Bear contemplates the
lesson which he has just learned and manages to swipe some honey from the
bees nest at the cave. It tastes much better than he ever imagined, because
he got it all by himself.
The Bear Who Didn't Like Honey is a very engaging
story which is sure to delight preschool age children with a very valuable
lesson to be learned. The illustrations are very expressive and humorous.
Buy
Now
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