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Not This Bear
Book by Myers, Bernice
Paperback
First published June 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 25, 2018
An enjoyable comedy of mistaken identity for wee ones. One cold autumn day, young Herman dresses himself in his fuzzy hat and winter jacket and heads off to his Aunt's house. On his way, he is accosted by a bear, who is sure that Herman is actually his Cousin Julius. The bear ignores Herman's protestations, and drags him off to the lair to meet the rest of the bear family. The bears laugh off Herman's attempts to prove that he is not a bear until... well, you can probably guess the solution.
Ran into an original copy in an older lady's moving sale, but I am pleased to see from other reviews that it was recently reprinted. There are sequels to "Not This Bear", and Myers was a prolific author overall. My childhood was contemporaneous; I don't recognize any of Myers' books but I'll be on the lookout now.
DS#1 (7), DD #1 (5) & DS #2 (2) all approved.
Ran into an original copy in an older lady's moving sale, but I am pleased to see from other reviews that it was recently reprinted. There are sequels to "Not This Bear", and Myers was a prolific author overall. My childhood was contemporaneous; I don't recognize any of Myers' books but I'll be on the lookout now.
DS#1 (7), DD #1 (5) & DS #2 (2) all approved.
November 2, 2023
This was hilarious!!
December 30, 2024
This book is a favorite from my childhood. I love remembering my Mom saying, “Not THIS bear!” in her indignant voice. It has been rereleased and is in publication again, so I was thrilled to buy it for my grandchildren.
The story is great fun, telling the tale of a boy in his winter coat and hat who goes to visit his aunt. On the way, a bear mistakes him for his cousin, and the fun begins. Delightful.
The story is great fun, telling the tale of a boy in his winter coat and hat who goes to visit his aunt. On the way, a bear mistakes him for his cousin, and the fun begins. Delightful.
August 25, 2023
A quirky and humorous tale about a little boy named Herman who is mistakenly taken for a bear by a family of bears. He tries to convince them that he's not a bear, but the bears just think he's playing tricks on them. Will Herman be able to convince them that he's just a little boy, or will he have to hibernate with the other bears all winter? My rating - 3/5
December 25, 2024
i’m going through the picture books of my childhood at my grandparents house to reach my reading goal this year. it’s not cheating because they *are* books. i got 4 books for christmas today so next year is gonna be my bookworm era
anyways this book is so precious i love the drawings soooo much they’re adorable
anyways this book is so precious i love the drawings soooo much they’re adorable
December 14, 2019
Herman has a fur coat and hat on as he walks to his Aunt Gert's house, but a bear thinks he's his cousin and drags him off to his cave until Herman proves he's a boy. Very simple limited color drawings.``````````````
November 13, 2018
This book was cute...funny story that I enjoyed as much as my students!
August 21, 2020
Imagination is still alive 50 years later. A crayon, a pen and words... Magic
November 3, 2020
cute fun illustrations. will make you smile. fun times.
July 18, 2021
A case of mistaken identity, pretty cute.
Read
May 25, 2022Somewhere near the 1st grade I wrote this about it:
Herman is going to visit his aunt Gert's house when a bear jumps out and thinks he's his cousin Julious.
Herman is going to visit his aunt Gert's house when a bear jumps out and thinks he's his cousin Julious.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2024
Silly and fun, a great group read aloud!
October 6, 2014
This book is about a boy named Little Herman. One day as he is going to his Aunt Gert's house, he becomes very cold. So to keep himself warm, he pulls a long furry coat and a big furry hat over his face. As he is walking, a bear thinks Little Herman is his Cousin Julius, so he pulls poor Herman to his cave. All the bears come thinking Herman is their cousin, and welcomes Little Herman to their cave. Little Herman tries to explain, but the bears don't listen to him. They feed Little Herman food, and watches Little Herman do tricks. Little Herman sings, dances, whistles, and does all sorts of things to convince the bears, he is not a bear. The bears just laugh and have fun. Then while the bears get ready to sleep for the winter, Little Herman yells out that he does not want to sleep. The bears finally believe Little Herman not to be a bear, especially after he takes his coat and hat off. The bears laugh and let Little Herman leave. Then as Little Herman continues to walk to his grandmas house, a black bear looks and shouts " Cousin Bernard!" Uh oh!
I thought this book had a really funny storyline and contained a lot of creativity. I think kids would love this book, because this book has a lot of goofy characters. The bears in this book was all so goofy and funny, you just had to love them. Also when Little Herman is shown so desperately trying to prove to the bears he is not one of them, I thought was very entertaining. Most children are at the age where they love animals, so how the the bears were displayed in the story, I think kids would really like and would be able to engage with it. Overall, the story was good.
I personally did not like the illustrations of this book. I thought it was little too messy and none of the pictures were clearly drawn. The bears did not really look like bears, and the way the fur was drawn was not really to my taste. However, I can see some kids liking this kind of drawings because, its simple and not too complex. Also this book is very old, so I can understand the drawings being different from what I am used to. Overall, I thought the book was good.
I thought this book had a really funny storyline and contained a lot of creativity. I think kids would love this book, because this book has a lot of goofy characters. The bears in this book was all so goofy and funny, you just had to love them. Also when Little Herman is shown so desperately trying to prove to the bears he is not one of them, I thought was very entertaining. Most children are at the age where they love animals, so how the the bears were displayed in the story, I think kids would really like and would be able to engage with it. Overall, the story was good.
I personally did not like the illustrations of this book. I thought it was little too messy and none of the pictures were clearly drawn. The bears did not really look like bears, and the way the fur was drawn was not really to my taste. However, I can see some kids liking this kind of drawings because, its simple and not too complex. Also this book is very old, so I can understand the drawings being different from what I am used to. Overall, I thought the book was good.
May 25, 2015
"Not THIS Bear!" by Bernice Myers was originally published in 1967, the year I graduated from high school. Since I was not myself a child, or the mother of young children, or even yet a young elementary art teacher looking for books to share with kids, it didn't come to my attention. So almost 50 years later, I am now a much older art teacher AND a grandma, so discovering children's books for both purposes is just something that I do.
And this is a charming book that I can use both for teaching art and for sharing with my five grandchildren under 6. I recognize the style of illustration as being from the 60's, but it will also communicate to today's generation of kids. The story of mistaken identity is very funny and reminds me somewhat of another picture book favorite, Eric Kimmel's "The Chanakuh Guest", but will connect to younger listeners.
On a cold winter day, Herman puts on his furry brown coat and hat to go visit his Aunt Gert, but before he arrives he is mistaken by a family of brown bears for their cousin Julius. The more Herman tries to convince them he is a little boy, the more the bears insist he is Julius. Finally when he refuses to hibernate, they take off Herman's hat and coat and discover the truth.
And this is a charming book that I can use both for teaching art and for sharing with my five grandchildren under 6. I recognize the style of illustration as being from the 60's, but it will also communicate to today's generation of kids. The story of mistaken identity is very funny and reminds me somewhat of another picture book favorite, Eric Kimmel's "The Chanakuh Guest", but will connect to younger listeners.
On a cold winter day, Herman puts on his furry brown coat and hat to go visit his Aunt Gert, but before he arrives he is mistaken by a family of brown bears for their cousin Julius. The more Herman tries to convince them he is a little boy, the more the bears insist he is Julius. Finally when he refuses to hibernate, they take off Herman's hat and coat and discover the truth.
February 25, 2025
This is really cute and sends a good message about speaking up for yourself.
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May 8, 2015The tale of Herman & his mistaken identity.
My 2 granddaughters will love this book.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font, hand drawn colored pictures & writing style. A very well written delightful Children’s illustrated funny book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great children’s movie, especially an animated cartoon, or mini TV series. Ages 5-8. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Two Lions; hardback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
My 2 granddaughters will love this book.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font, hand drawn colored pictures & writing style. A very well written delightful Children’s illustrated funny book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great children’s movie, especially an animated cartoon, or mini TV series. Ages 5-8. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Two Lions; hardback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
May 7, 2015
I won this book as part of Goodreads Giveaways. The edition that I won is part of Book Crush Rediscoveries, a series devoted to reprinting some of the best children's and young adult books originally published from the 1930's to the present. Each book of the series is selected by the noted librarian Nancy Pearl. The book also has discussion questions and a list of recommended further readings. "Not THIS Bear!" is a classic picture book by Bernice Myers first published in 1967. Funny, simple, and creative illustrations. Excited to add this to my classic children's book library!
June 22, 2015
I won this book as part of Goodreads Giveaways.
I had never heard of this book until I entered to win it. I read it and was delighted by it. It is clearly a children's story but with it it gave me ideas for my own children's stories. I just graduated with a BA in English/Creative Writing. I believe children will love this book. It's about a little boy that gets mistaken for a bear. The bears think he is a bear and he goes through different tasks with the bears as they prepare for hibernation. It has pictures that kids will love to look at as well as an interesting story.
I had never heard of this book until I entered to win it. I read it and was delighted by it. It is clearly a children's story but with it it gave me ideas for my own children's stories. I just graduated with a BA in English/Creative Writing. I believe children will love this book. It's about a little boy that gets mistaken for a bear. The bears think he is a bear and he goes through different tasks with the bears as they prepare for hibernation. It has pictures that kids will love to look at as well as an interesting story.
January 14, 2016
First, let me say, I love books that have been revived. This wonderful picture book was first published in 1971. Now, a whole new generation of readers will love it as much as their parents did. If you remember Herman, you’re going to love introducing him to your child or grandchild. http://julianaleewriter.com/books-ali...
September 15, 2012
This copy was a little beat up when I found it, and I pulled it from the West Clark Community Schools warehouse just to return to my childhood. This was one of the books I ordered from the class book orders. I remember loving the simplicity of the illustrations.
November 2, 2015
I received this book as part of a first-reads giveaway. I read this book along with my younger sister and she really enjoyed it! I thought the story was cute and creative. I enjoyed the illustrations throughout the book, I loved the fun sketchy style used.
May 10, 2015
Very cute. This is a classic, and has been given a nice introduction and "discussion" questions by Nancy Pearl of "Book Crush" fame. The simplistic drawings are charming and the story is reasonably funny; kids will like it.
I got a copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
I got a copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
January 2, 2016
This story of mistaken identity was very fun! Herman's fur coat & hat provide him the opportunity for some fun adventure with bears. The story is well written and lots of fun. I think this one will be re-read a few times.
March 21, 2016
Not This Bear
Myers, Bernice
an upbeat story about the individual and their self protection
Myers, Bernice
an upbeat story about the individual and their self protection
April 10, 2012
Loved this book as a child... reminds me of my brother because it was his favorite book.
September 23, 2014
Being mistaken is what this book is about but the best thing I think is that the illustrations are really simple
February 20, 2015
This was the most creative book
I read as a child and
I love it!
I read as a child and
I love it!
May 26, 2015
Wonderful story for young readers with great illustrations! Can't wait to read it to my grandson. What a nice surprise to win this book as a first reads giveaway reward!!
July 22, 2015
A case of mistaken identity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews