I See You, Sad Bear

by Vern Kousky (Author) Vern Kousky (Illustrator)

I See You, Sad Bear
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

A poetic and comforting story that explores emotional literacy and friendship, perfect for fans of The Rabbit Listened and Be Kind.

Sad Bear, why are you so sad?

As we follow Sad Bear through a gloomy day, we can only guess at why he's so blue.

Did you drop your ice cream on the ground?

Was it your birthday and did all your friends forget?

Or maybe there is no reason at all. You are just simply sad.

Soon a friend arrives and tries his best to cheer up Sad Bear. But the truth is, everyone gets sad, and sometimes all we need is a friend by our side.

For readers big and small, this moving and gentle tale takes on big concepts like sadness and empathy, helping young readers learn that offering comfort can mean lending a hand or an ear, or simply just being there.

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Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

Gracefully understated and understanding, for Sad Bears and their friends, too.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--Kousky's latest begins with questions for the bear of the title about why he is so sad. An animal resembling a deer watches the bear and offers multiple possibilities: "Did your ice cream drop on the ground?" "Is today, perhaps, a cold and rainy day?" The deer finally muses, "Maybe there is no reason at all. You are just simply sad." The deer tries to cheer the bear up by solving those potential problems, e.g., by sharing his ice cream. But, he concludes, "If after all, you feel a little blue, it's okay... Sometimes I get sad, too." The illustrations smartly reflect the mood of the story, employing grays and blues when Sad Bear is sad, culminating in a dark cityscape lit only by streetlights and the moon. A cheery yellow dominates when the deer tries to help, though the book ends with the two sitting together in a still dark, though less melancholy skyline setting. Children may latch on to the many other pages focused on the reason for the bear's sadness and his friend's attempts to make him happy, rather than the concluding message of the comfort found in sitting with a friend in their sadness. VERDICT Well-intentioned, but unless it's shared or used in groups, this is an additional purchase for SEL shelves.--Lindsay Loup

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Gentle...and poetic. - BCCB

Vern Kousky
VERN KOUSKY is the author-illustrator of HAROLD LOVES HIS WOOLLY HAT, called "accessible and appealing" in a starred review from School Library Journal, and LAWRENCE: THE BUNNY WHO WANTED TO BE NAKED. He is also the creator of THE BLUE SONGBIRD and OTTO, THE OWL WHO LOVED POETRY. Visit him on the Web at vernkousky.com or on Instagram at @vernkousky.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781250842022
Lexile Measure
540
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Roaring Brook Press
Publication date
July 25, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV002030 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Bears
Library of Congress categories
-

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