Beady Bear

by Don Freeman

A toy bear goes off to a cave to live as a real bear should, only to find he needs something more to be truly happy.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 1954

About the author

Don Freeman was a painter, printmaker, cartoonist, children's book author, and illustrator. He was born in San Diego, California, attended high school in Missouri, and later moved to New York City where he studied etching with John Sloan.
Frequent subjects included Broadway theatre, politics, and the circus. He was also a jazz musician, and the brother of circus entrepreneur Randy Freeman.

Reviews

[donna backshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a great example of books that do not age well, for reasons you'll see if you crack this one open.

I totally get what the author was going for -- home is where you feel loved and comfortable -- but the execution was bizarre, and it needs a clearer finish. If this is a book targeted at small children, I fear the message would be lost on them.

[Jan Priddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book as a child. I still have my copy.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book! All of Don Freeman's books are adorable!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is spooky! I remember being terrified as a child about this teddy bear living in a cave, but it was enthralling at the same time. Unforgettable imagery.

[Ginnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aw. Freeman is an expert at conveying emotion is simple drawings. A true gem that not many children illustrators can attain.

[Gail · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like the inconsistent use of end rhymes, how Beady was small on one page and bigger on the following ones, and that he seemed to be able to go for a long time without being wound up, and then froze out of embarrassment (or because he ran out?).

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet book about a stuffed bear by the author of "Corduroy." In this one, the toy bear learns that real bears live in a cave, so he finds a cave. But it doesn't feel quite right and he searches for what is missing. The end is simple and satisfying, but not sappy.

[Abby Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it was published in the 1950's, its still a great book to read to children. It teaches them the importance of relationships with others.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been many years since I read this to my kids. I remember loving it myself, and seeing as we checked it out of the library several times, I know my daughters loved it too.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐻

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just a sweet little book about a wind up bear.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story that should be apart of every essential library, I enjoyed this more than Corduroy, finding it very endearing ♡

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that I don't remember ever having read when I was growing up and so it was quite new to me when I picked it up off my shelves. A quick review for this book would be that after reading it, Beady Bear reminded me of a combination of The Velveteen Rabbit, Corduroy and Winnie the Pooh all combined together.

The story is somewhat cute for it is a about a wind-up toy due to the age of the book who unfortunately has a boy that seems to vanish. Trying to pass the time until his boy returns, Beady finds out that actual bears live in caves and thus starts an adventure of a lifetime for this teddy.

Although the book is quite thick the story isn't really text-heavy. Instead basically each page mostly has only one sentence of story to it while most of the words are quite simple to read as well as follow along except the little boy's name, which would really be considered an uncommon name now. Furthermore there is a weird writing style with this book while I am not sure if it was intentional but part of the sentences rhyme while the other part doesn't thus making the book feel really lopsided.

All of the illustrations are a combination of black-and-white thus also not providing children with the bright colors that many would now be used to. All in all Beady Bear is definitely a vintage book while it would take a very special reader to make room on their shelves for this old book.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERSPECTIVE, PLEASE

For starters, think about this. "Beady Bear" was dedicated to a librarian, Marjorie Rankin, of the Children's Room of the Santa Barbara Public Library.

Am I the only Goodreader around here who just thrills at those words?

Children's librarians are cultural heroes, at least in my world. And with Don Freeman as author and illustrator, you know this book for Librarian Rankin? It's going to be superb.

AS FOR BEADY'S ADVENTURES...

Oh, it's not long before Beady Bear has me laughing out loud, and I mean a rip-roaring LLLOOOLLLLLLLLL.

Golly, wouldn't life be different if most of us didn't worry so much about all the "supposed-to's"?

Here's an example of Don Freeman's signature wit. Even if kids don't get it, adult readers will, on reflection:

"A perfect place for a brave bear like me!" sighed Beady.

As for the ending, I won't spoil it. I will, however, remember it.

What a love story this is, ahhhhh!

[Asho · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had been hanging out down in the basement for years (we have a bookshelf in the playroom, but the kids tend to forget about the books down there and rarely look at them). I don't even know where this book came from, to be honest. It has a library tag on it so we must have gotten it at a used book sale at some point, but I don't recall either of the big kids picking it out. Anyway, recently, L discovered this and decided it's cute, so she and S and I read it at bedtime. S didn't love that the pictures are entirely in black and white ("Is it only ever nighttime there?" he asked me). I didn't love that there was a weird sort of rhyme scheme where sometimes there were rhyming phrases and other times there weren't. But L (5) was intrigued by the idea of a wind-up toy and spent some time the next day pretending to be a wind-up toy.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rare kid's classic about Beady, a stuffed animal toy bear whose best friend is a small boy with the unlikely first name of Thayer. Beady is a wind-up toy bear, but very independent minded, at least to a point. When Thayer goes outside, Beady finds an abc book with the picture of a bear, a "brave" animal who usually lives in a cave. Beady is under the impression, from the book no less, that all bears "should" be in caves because "that's how it is". So he takes off into the winter cold to find a cave of his own in the world. Can Thayer find Beady and bring him home safe? ....Duh, and can switching to GEICO really save you 15 percent or more on car insurance? But it's a sweet well intentioned book written in 1954 so give the bear a chance. Cos you never know when you'll be needy for Beady!
Three stars
Beady rocks!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: "for goodness sake" is said.

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[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique little story about a windup toy bear who thinks he needs to live in a cave like a real bear, until he realizes that he misses the comforts of home and those who care about him too much. This is a very "different" sort of picture book, and I appreciated that.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beady the bear reads a book that tells him bears are supposed to live in caves, so he finds a cave near his house. He keeps going back home to get things like his pillow and the evening newspaper. A cute story with nice pictures.

[Alisha]

From an artist standpoint it was great looking at the illustrations as a study in linocuts. I liked them and want to look at them with more care and see if I can replicate some of the techniques.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

This works even with the black & white pictures! The rhyming is perfect. The group was totally into it last night & today, guessing what Beady needed to stay in the cave. I also like it because depending on the ages & group you can talk about how toys before batteries had keys to wind the toys up so they could move. 1/25/12

Used again and one boy could not get over Thayer's name. Who would name their child Thayer? 12/18/12

This didn't work with my mixed age group for story time either. I don't know if the black and white pictures were a turn off... 12/13/14

A little long for the young group for PJ Story Time

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beady is Thayer's toy bear that winds up. When Thayer leaves, Beady opens the ABC Animal Book and learns that bears live in caves. Beady leaves a note and heads to a cave. Thayer finds him and both are happy.
The black and white illustrations are adorable. There is approximately one sentence per illustrated page.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story about a toy bear who has an adventure. He seems to be a mechanical, boy's version of Corduroy and the illustrations have the same charm. We enjoyed listening to the audiocassette while following along with the book.

[Christine Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was chosen by all three of my boys from the school library over a seven year time span. Yes, some of the details are dated,reminiscent of classic toys, but that is no matter. The emotions conveyed in this book are timeless. Snuggle up with your young son, and enjoy a story from a simpler time. You won't be sorry.

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Thayer's toy wind-up bear Beady is left home alone, he discovers a book that shows a real bear living in a cave. Determined to be like a real bear, Beady sets off for a local cave. But the cave isn't like home, so he brings his pillow, a flashlight, and something to read...only to discover that what truly makes him feel at home is Thayer!

[Christina Macleod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have several copies of this book in my classroom. This story is great for emergent readers. It is easy to read, and children can practice prediction. I like this book very much. The illustrations are lovely, and I enjoy using this book in my book clubs for early readers.

[Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite part: Beady bear walking into a dark cave and being brave.

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really relevant to today's children, as it features a bear you wind-up by hand to make it go.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same charm as Courduroy from the master of the bear books.

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 43242 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.0 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP