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Wise Bear William: A New Beginning
"Wise Bear William is one of the most delightful books for young readers ever! Adults will enjoy it as well." - Phylicia Rashad"Heartfelt, winning and tender, Wise Bear William will become an instant classic for your child's home library to be savored and shared in the years to come. I loved it. Highly recommended! Paws up!" - Constance Marks, Director of the award winning documentary Being A Puppeteer's Journey"Wise Bear William offers such a beautiful glimpse into the world of our children, while reminding us about the important things in life - friendship, loyalty, and loving one another. This is a book that children and their parents will enjoy together." - Dina Spiegel, Psy.D, Child Psychologist “Arthur Wooten has created a vividly imaginative world of talking toys that transports us to another time and place with the luscious illustrations by Bud Santora.” – Gregory G. Allen, Playwright/Director of children’s musicalsEDITORIAL Wise Bear A New Beginning, toys long forgotten in an attic discover that children are coming up to rescue them.All wanting to be picked, each toy examines their own self-described shortcomings and turn to one another for comfort and advice. But the most important thing they discover is that as much as you fix things up on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that really counts.With an emotional and surprising ending for all the toys, this heartwarming and timeless tale of love and friendship is destined to become a favorite of young and old for years to come.
44 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2011
79 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Wooten
9 books41 followersAndrew Wooten has written for theater, film & television, he currently resides in NYC
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 27, 2011
Two Different Worlds
Blood and gore. Drug reference. Intense violence. Strong language.
These are not descriptors for “Wise Bear William – A New Beginning” written by Arthur Wooten and illustrated by Bud Santora.
Rather, they are the warning notes at the beginning of the trailer for one of the most popular recent video games “Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 3.”
Contrary to pop culture assumptions, the story about the Campbell house attic with its talking stuffed toys is more relevant than the world of globetrotting machine-gun-toting behemoths.
Our day-to-day lives filled with anxieties and opportunities are much closer to what occurs in the Campbell house than in the testosterone-infused urban combat scenes of the video game world.
Captain, as Wise Bear William is affectionately and respectfully called by his toy friends, exemplifies modesty, consideration, and wisdom – traits not likely to be found in any virtual captain on the mean streets of “Call of Duty”.
So this role model of kindness and generosity, even though he’s a talking stuffed bear, is more relevant to our real lives than the modern computer graphic images.
Reading Wooten’s lyrical dialogue and feasting on Santora’s heart-warming illustrations is an ennobling experience for the child in all of us. It’s not much of a stretch to assume that those with whom we come into contact in our homes and communities will appreciate our absorbing the lessons from “Wise Bear William” more than our emulating the polarized good/bad dichotomy and unmitigated aggression of the “Call of Duty” world.
I’ll hazard a wild guess that “Call of Duty” will sell more copies than “Wise Bear William”. Unfortunately.
Blood and gore. Drug reference. Intense violence. Strong language.
These are not descriptors for “Wise Bear William – A New Beginning” written by Arthur Wooten and illustrated by Bud Santora.
Rather, they are the warning notes at the beginning of the trailer for one of the most popular recent video games “Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 3.”
Contrary to pop culture assumptions, the story about the Campbell house attic with its talking stuffed toys is more relevant than the world of globetrotting machine-gun-toting behemoths.
Our day-to-day lives filled with anxieties and opportunities are much closer to what occurs in the Campbell house than in the testosterone-infused urban combat scenes of the video game world.
Captain, as Wise Bear William is affectionately and respectfully called by his toy friends, exemplifies modesty, consideration, and wisdom – traits not likely to be found in any virtual captain on the mean streets of “Call of Duty”.
So this role model of kindness and generosity, even though he’s a talking stuffed bear, is more relevant to our real lives than the modern computer graphic images.
Reading Wooten’s lyrical dialogue and feasting on Santora’s heart-warming illustrations is an ennobling experience for the child in all of us. It’s not much of a stretch to assume that those with whom we come into contact in our homes and communities will appreciate our absorbing the lessons from “Wise Bear William” more than our emulating the polarized good/bad dichotomy and unmitigated aggression of the “Call of Duty” world.
I’ll hazard a wild guess that “Call of Duty” will sell more copies than “Wise Bear William”. Unfortunately.
February 10, 2012
My Review: Wise Bear William: A New Beginning is a well written story by author Arthur Wooten. Nearly everyone has had a toy that was forgotten in the attic or basement. In this story, when the toys heard that the children were coming to choose a toy in the attic as it was a family tradition, they couldn’t wait to get ready. With the help of Wise Bear William, who was willing to help Bean Bag Bunny, Rag Doll Rose and Calico Kitty clean up and prepare them for the children's arrival.
The best part of this story was when Wise Bear William told the toys quote “Some of you may not get chosen today and that’s OK. It just means that it’s not your time yet.” He also remind them that even after working hard patching things on the outside, its what’s inside that counts. That is the true meaning of beauty and an important lesson for children. So what happened to Wise Bear William, was he picked by any of the children?
This story is about friendship, understanding and giving. Great illustration by Bud Santora that helps brings the story to life. Every child would love reading this book. I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
The best part of this story was when Wise Bear William told the toys quote “Some of you may not get chosen today and that’s OK. It just means that it’s not your time yet.” He also remind them that even after working hard patching things on the outside, its what’s inside that counts. That is the true meaning of beauty and an important lesson for children. So what happened to Wise Bear William, was he picked by any of the children?
This story is about friendship, understanding and giving. Great illustration by Bud Santora that helps brings the story to life. Every child would love reading this book. I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.
February 12, 2012
Wise Bear William: A New Beginning is a beautifully illustrated children's book with an even more appealing message. William's name says it all as he gives sage advice to the other toys in the attic - eagerly awaiting to be 'chosen' by children. This story of patience, understanding, a giving spirit, and friendship may be told for the ears of a child, but Arthur Wooten has made it a lesson for all to hear. Wooten has created a vividly imaginative world of talking toys that transports us to another time and place with the luscious illustrations by Bud Santora. I hope this 'new beginning' is the start of a wonderful series of adventures for Wise Bear and his friends.
February 28, 2013
Wise Bear William is the story about the tattered old toys that live in the Campbell’s attic. Traditionally generations of children, when visiting the house, have come into the attic to choose one toy each; one that they would love until they are too old for it, at which time the toy would be returned to the attic. The toys currently residing in the attic are a floppy-eared rabbit called Bean Bag Bunny, a one-eyed cat aptly named Calico Kitty and a very shabby rag doll known as Rag Doll Rose. When they hear there will be children visiting the house, they all want to be chosen, but soon realise they are a bit the worse for wear. They turn to Wise Bear William, Captain of the attic, for suggestions and advice on how to make themselves more personable and lovable. William helps them all, but also tells them that no matter how much they spruce themselves up on the outside, it will always be the inside that matters.
I had heard good things of Wise Bear William before I was asked by the author to review it. When I did read it, it passed all expectations – It is simply sublime. Just opening this book took me straight back to my childhood. Both the sumptuous illustrations and the divine story line seemed to leap straight off the pages of the old-fashioned story books I used to read.
I adored the little mouse with spectacles which appeared in so many of the glorious illustrations! In fact the youngest member of the family spent quite some time scouring all the illustrations hoping to find him on every page – which, although she didn't, was great fun.
The characters are expertly drawn and extremely lovable and the reader is taken through a range of emotions, from joy and hope to sadness and back again, in a very short space of time. I found Wise Bear William to be especially sweet with his spectacles and waistcoat, and his exquisite caring demeanour. I think most of us can relate to this story. After all, who doesn't have a care-worn old teddy stored away somewhere, or perhaps a doll or a stuffed cat or dog.
This book is one to keep and cannot fail to appeal to children of all ages. I will certainly be putting it on my to-be-read-again-soon shelf.
I had heard good things of Wise Bear William before I was asked by the author to review it. When I did read it, it passed all expectations – It is simply sublime. Just opening this book took me straight back to my childhood. Both the sumptuous illustrations and the divine story line seemed to leap straight off the pages of the old-fashioned story books I used to read.
I adored the little mouse with spectacles which appeared in so many of the glorious illustrations! In fact the youngest member of the family spent quite some time scouring all the illustrations hoping to find him on every page – which, although she didn't, was great fun.
The characters are expertly drawn and extremely lovable and the reader is taken through a range of emotions, from joy and hope to sadness and back again, in a very short space of time. I found Wise Bear William to be especially sweet with his spectacles and waistcoat, and his exquisite caring demeanour. I think most of us can relate to this story. After all, who doesn't have a care-worn old teddy stored away somewhere, or perhaps a doll or a stuffed cat or dog.
This book is one to keep and cannot fail to appeal to children of all ages. I will certainly be putting it on my to-be-read-again-soon shelf.
January 3, 2012
This was such a lovely book. I had absolutely no idea it would make me cry! I have a little story to tell you to explain why I cried. In the process of moving last year, we were moving things from the attic and I had a box of cherished stuffed animals from when I was a child. One of them was my teddy bear, Theodore, my first teddy bear that I received when I was a newborn baby. When I looked at the box, I noticed that it was wet and when I opened it, horror awaited. My teddy bear had gotten wet and had disintegrated into almost nothing. I cried and cried. Of course, the one leaky spot in the attic had to be above that box. =O( So, when I got to a certain point in Wise Bear William, it made me think of that and also how much I loved my teddy when I was growing up. For a children's book to evoke this kind of emotion in an adult is a powerful thing. Now don't get me wrong. The book is not meant to be sad and it's not sad, really. It just caused that kind of reaction in me.
I read the book with my sons and they really liked it too. They said their favorite characters were Calico Kitty and Wise Bear William and the parts they liked best were when Wise Bear William was chosen and how Rag Doll Rose looked after William fixed her up. I was impressed with the book because it really kept their interest. They are 9 and 10 so they are starting to outgrow this type of book, but it was written so well and kids can tell when a book is well written.
Wise Bear William is not a Christmas book, but it is a good book to read with your children at Christmas because it teaches that helping others is important and that rewards can come to you, even when you think all is lost. Wise Bear William is the voice of hope throughout the book and hope is a good thing to read about during Christmas. I highly recommend this book.
I read the book with my sons and they really liked it too. They said their favorite characters were Calico Kitty and Wise Bear William and the parts they liked best were when Wise Bear William was chosen and how Rag Doll Rose looked after William fixed her up. I was impressed with the book because it really kept their interest. They are 9 and 10 so they are starting to outgrow this type of book, but it was written so well and kids can tell when a book is well written.
Wise Bear William is not a Christmas book, but it is a good book to read with your children at Christmas because it teaches that helping others is important and that rewards can come to you, even when you think all is lost. Wise Bear William is the voice of hope throughout the book and hope is a good thing to read about during Christmas. I highly recommend this book.
January 13, 2012
Children are often the most difficult audience to please, and the books we present them with have to be both entertaining and educational to get their instant, undivided attention. It's been a long time since I read a children's book that fits the categories of entertaining and educational with unequivocal success, but Wise Bear William - A New Beginning accomplishes both feats with gusto! And it appeals to adults as easily as it does to youth.
The brainchild of critically acclaimed novelist Arthur Wooten (writing) and Emmy Award winner Bud Santora (illustrations), Wise Bear William is the tale of "toys long forgotten in an attic (who) discover that children are coming up to rescue them.
"All wanting to be picked, each toy examines their own self-described shortcomings and turn to one another for comfort and advice. But the most important thing they discover is that as much as you fix things up on the outside, it's what's on the inside that really counts.
"With an emotional and surprising ending for all the toys, this heartwarming and timeless tale of love and friendship is destined to become a favorite of young and old for years to come."
Emmy Award winning actress Phylicia Rashad says: "Wise Bear William is one of the most delightful books for young readers ever! Adults will enjoy it as well."
A perfect holiday gift, but great for the whole year round, Wise Bear William is destined to become one of the classic children's books that someday your children will be reading to theirs while fondly remembering just what they felt the first time they discovered its magic.
The brainchild of critically acclaimed novelist Arthur Wooten (writing) and Emmy Award winner Bud Santora (illustrations), Wise Bear William is the tale of "toys long forgotten in an attic (who) discover that children are coming up to rescue them.
"All wanting to be picked, each toy examines their own self-described shortcomings and turn to one another for comfort and advice. But the most important thing they discover is that as much as you fix things up on the outside, it's what's on the inside that really counts.
"With an emotional and surprising ending for all the toys, this heartwarming and timeless tale of love and friendship is destined to become a favorite of young and old for years to come."
Emmy Award winning actress Phylicia Rashad says: "Wise Bear William is one of the most delightful books for young readers ever! Adults will enjoy it as well."
A perfect holiday gift, but great for the whole year round, Wise Bear William is destined to become one of the classic children's books that someday your children will be reading to theirs while fondly remembering just what they felt the first time they discovered its magic.
April 30, 2014
Remember the poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"? Wise Bear William: A New Beginning, the new book by Arthur Wooten with illustrations by Bud Santora, reminds me of that poem as it brings back childhood memories and allows me to revisit places and people dear to me, now long gone. In that sense, Wise Bear William offers not only a fascinating children's story, but also a trip back in time and an opportunity to reconnect with what we, adults, hold dear. The story of Wise Bear William comes alive at the concurrence of two worlds--one painted with words, by Arthur Wooten, and the other with rich and warm colors by Bud Santora. Wise Bear William is indeed a rich, fascinating story that offers a peek into the secret world of toys and, with that, into our own innocence. Wise Bear William is a children's story, and also a story for children of all ages. It is a Christmas tale, yet a tale for all days of the year. Wise Bear William is the perfect holiday and any day gift!
October 13, 2012
I don't often buy or read children books, but I've read other books by this author and wanted to see how he presented his philosophy in a book which both adult and child will treasure. In an old family home, there are three dolls that are stored in an attic. The Campbell family tradition is that when children come to visit, that they are allowed to go up into the attic and choose a toy. They must care for it for as long as they want it, but when done, it must be returned to the attic. Bean Bag Bunny, Calico Kitty, Rag Doll Rose all look up for guidance from Wise Bear William when they find out the next day children will be arriving. This story is packed with values for everyone at any age. I'm so impressed with the lessons gently told by Wise Bear William. Arthur Wooten and illustrator Bud Santora have created a book to be treasured as much as any well-loved toys of children. Fantastic!
May 15, 2012
This is a free book from Goodreads first-reads.
Wise Bear William: A New Beginning is well written and beautifully illustrated.
Summary: In Wise Bear William: A New Beginning, toys long forgotten in an attic discover that children are coming up to rescue them.
All wanting to be picked, each toy examines their own self-described shortcomings and turn to one another for comfort and advice. But the most important thing they discover is that as much as you fix things up on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that really counts.
May 8, 2015
A sweet and soulful tale about true friendship. Through Mr. Wooten's toys, we learn about acceptance, caring for others and selflessness in a genuine manner that every child (and adult) will respond to. Mr. Santora's illustration is warm and lush, like a comfortable wood-paneled study - yet somehow also pops with fancy. Curl up in a big comfy chair with your kids and let Wise Bear William share his world with you. Highly recommended!
Want to read
April 17, 2012All of Arthur's books are a must read! Heart-warming, extremely funny, and memorable.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews