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A Bear's Year
In this gorgeous, lyrical celebration about the passing of seasons, readers will follow a mother bear and her cubs through the course of a year.
Deep in her den under a snowflake blanket, Mama snuggles her newborn babies. When spring arrives, the bears awaken and emerge from their lair, and as the weather warms to summer, Mama teaches her young ones to fish, gather berries, and dig for roots. Then, in fall, the leaves turn gold, food grows scarce, and the family prepares for hibernation and the coming winter.
With spare, accessible text and charming illustrations, here is a sweet, gentle introduction to how bears experience the changing seasons, perfect for the youngest readers and listeners.
Deep in her den under a snowflake blanket, Mama snuggles her newborn babies. When spring arrives, the bears awaken and emerge from their lair, and as the weather warms to summer, Mama teaches her young ones to fish, gather berries, and dig for roots. Then, in fall, the leaves turn gold, food grows scarce, and the family prepares for hibernation and the coming winter.
With spare, accessible text and charming illustrations, here is a sweet, gentle introduction to how bears experience the changing seasons, perfect for the youngest readers and listeners.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
1 person is currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Duval
10 books16 followersKathy Duval's latest book is A BEAR'S YEAR (Schwartz & Wade), illustrated by Gerry Turley She is also the author of TAKE ME TO YOUR BBQ illustrated by Adam McCauley, and THE THREE BEARS’ CHRISTMAS and THE THREE BEARS’ HALLOWEEN, illustrated by Meisel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 31, 2017
A short, rhyming story about the seasons that bears go through, from the liberation period of winter to the new frolicking of a fresh springtime and through the lazy summer months that lead to the fattening-up period of the autumn. With two small cubs, Momma must show them the ropes before preparing to nestle down for the winter again, ready to sleep through the most difficult month of all. Neo likes bears and so when he was able to have this story read to him, he was well pleased. With the recent acquisition of zoo passes, we may be able to see the bears throughout the year.
November 13, 2017
This bear family must adjust to every season.
Read
February 3, 2016For three days our meteorologists have continued to issue winter weather advisories. The snow comes and goes almost as if some giants are engaged in synchronized breathing. As they inhale the clouds clear so patches of blue sky appear above the mountain peaks. Heavy snowfall obscures everything except for my immediate neighbors' homes, yards and the nearby fifty foot ponderosa and tamarack pines, signifying they have decided to exhale.
This evening as another frequent squall brought in a thick curtain of falling flakes, a trio of deer slowly walked down the street. I wondered if tucked away in their minds was a picture of other deer previously moving along the same path; only all signs of humans were replaced with a dense forest of trees. Other than the ever present magpies no other creatures were around during the day; a clear sign of the deeper snow and colder temperatures.
Our animal companions' lives are dictated by clocks and conditions; some we can understand, others are beyond our comprehension. In a recent collaboration, author Kathy Duval and illustrator Gerry Turley depict one woodland resident's life during a shift of the seasons in A Bear's Year (Swartz & Wade, October 27, 2016). It's a gentle story of lessons learned under the watchful guidance of a mother.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
This evening as another frequent squall brought in a thick curtain of falling flakes, a trio of deer slowly walked down the street. I wondered if tucked away in their minds was a picture of other deer previously moving along the same path; only all signs of humans were replaced with a dense forest of trees. Other than the ever present magpies no other creatures were around during the day; a clear sign of the deeper snow and colder temperatures.
Our animal companions' lives are dictated by clocks and conditions; some we can understand, others are beyond our comprehension. In a recent collaboration, author Kathy Duval and illustrator Gerry Turley depict one woodland resident's life during a shift of the seasons in A Bear's Year (Swartz & Wade, October 27, 2016). It's a gentle story of lessons learned under the watchful guidance of a mother.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
October 12, 2015
Seasons come, and seasons go, and a mother bear has to show her cubs what to do during each of those periods. Rhyming text accompanies the bears on their exploration of the wide world until they must head into their den for the winter. Lovely illustrations, which were drawn, screen printed, and then pieced together digitally, fill the book's pages, and make it hard for readers--or bear cubs--to decide which season they like best. Not only does the world around them change, but as the illustrations and text show, they, too, grow and develop thicker coats as winter approaches. This picture book is ideal for sharing at the change of each season and might be a good introduction to a study of hibernation and how animals cope with changes in weather and seasons.
November 8, 2015
Written in verse, the story takes the reader through the year with pages filled of one bear and her cubs. Simple pictures and text make this for younger readers and could be a mentor text for telling a story that includes the arc of a year in any life, animal or human.
December 13, 2015
A rhyming narrative that chronicles the lives of a mama bear and her two cubs through four seasons. The soothing rhythm and large, soft illustrations make this an informative preschool picture book as well as a comforting bedtime story.
November 5, 2017
Summary
This lovely book takes the readers/listeners on a journey through the four seasons. Through great illustrations and text, students can picture what each season might look like from a different perspective than their own. Themes of growth and independence also make the text, relatable to growing children. They will be able to identify similarities of their own process of growing up.
Activity
Kindergarten/1st Grade
Each student will draw a picture and write a sentence about something they do during each season of the year. Additionally, they can draw a picture and write about something there mom, dad, guardian has taught them.
Citation
Duval, K., & Turley, G. (2015). A bear's year. New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
This lovely book takes the readers/listeners on a journey through the four seasons. Through great illustrations and text, students can picture what each season might look like from a different perspective than their own. Themes of growth and independence also make the text, relatable to growing children. They will be able to identify similarities of their own process of growing up.
Activity
Kindergarten/1st Grade
Each student will draw a picture and write a sentence about something they do during each season of the year. Additionally, they can draw a picture and write about something there mom, dad, guardian has taught them.
Citation
Duval, K., & Turley, G. (2015). A bear's year. New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
September 16, 2018
Lovely illustrations! A Bear's Year was a great perspective of one animal's journey through the seasons. Perfect for talking about seasons, bears, cubs, and hibernation with your little one. Simple sentences perfect to read for pre-k to kindergartners.
July 14, 2019
This was a nice book that calmly takes you through the seasons of a bear family. Nothing spectacular or different, really, I am more enthusiastic about Honey by David Ezra Stein for this type of book, but a sweet simple story if your kid likes bears
June 16, 2022
A rhythmic story about baby bears, first cuddled up next to their mother, then exploring the world in spring, summer, and fall—until it’s time to sleep again until another winter’s end. A wonderful rhyming read-aloud!
January 3, 2018
This is a very simple book that would be most appropriate for PreK and earlier.
October 17, 2018
A beautiful book. Really liked the pictures and pointing out the bears, birds, foxes on each of the pages. Good for learning about seasons too. Thought this was excellent.
August 13, 2019
A bit long for very young readers. A nonfiction book that shows a bear's life changing with the seasons. Nice art
December 10, 2019
Loved this beautifully illustrated picture book about bears and seasons!
August 18, 2020
Possibility for storytime?
September 28, 2020
Very sweet story for little people. Beautiful illustrations.
March 11, 2021
beautiful illustrations, repetitive patterns, movement
hibernation
go through seasons and bear's eating habits
hibernation
go through seasons and bear's eating habits
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2022
Clever rhyming with wonderful vocabulary, and sweet art.
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January 12, 2016Short rhyming text accompanies illustrations made from a combination of drawing and screen printing to create a charming explanation of how bears experience the seasons. Beginning with a mother bear and her two cubs sleeping in their winter den, the book carries us through the year as the cubs grow and learn. For very young readers this is simple nonfiction, but they may not realize they are learning as they enjoy the pictures and the rhymes. Early elementary school students might try to emulate the spare style and create their own versions with different young animals and habitats. For older elementary grades, this could be used in a language lesson in creative writing. They could explore how the words are used to create the mood and convey facts at the same time with this as a "mentor text." Why does the author say, "Northern Lights paint the sky" or "Earth's snowflake blanket soft and deep"? What sort of imagery is that?
This could be one of those books that is read and re-read until every word is memorized and yet it is still requested at bedtime or story-time. Whether it is read at home, used for a science lesson, modeled in a language arts class, or even shown as an inspiration in art class, it is sure to be enjoyed and appreciated. For a "Read Aloud and Celebration of the Seasons Kit", visit http://www.curiouscitydpw.com/2015/11... and check out the extension activities suggested.
This could be one of those books that is read and re-read until every word is memorized and yet it is still requested at bedtime or story-time. Whether it is read at home, used for a science lesson, modeled in a language arts class, or even shown as an inspiration in art class, it is sure to be enjoyed and appreciated. For a "Read Aloud and Celebration of the Seasons Kit", visit http://www.curiouscitydpw.com/2015/11... and check out the extension activities suggested.
February 18, 2015
A short, sweet, tale of a mama bear and a year with her cubs.
The cover is lovely and to the point. It draws you in pretty much to where the story begins. And despite the cool colors of winter, it feels warming in its way.
This feels more like an illustrated poem than most picture books do for me. And in a way, felt very haiku like without actually fitting in the standard style. But the elements are there, with vivid imagery of nature, and simple but lovely turn of phrases, still telling a story with each 'stanza'. The story overall is very simple, but in a good way, and left me smiling a little wistful by the end.
I thought the artwork was interesting, and stylistic, matching the almost simpleness of the words. The scribbled style of the fur for the bears work for me, though I think anywhere else I'd be a little annoyed by it. I do love how detailed in ways the backgrounds are, and how many other animals are featured on each of the pages. Definitely will keep the kidlets entertained as they're being read to!
I'd like to thank the publisher via Edelweiss for allowing me a digital ARC of this.
The cover is lovely and to the point. It draws you in pretty much to where the story begins. And despite the cool colors of winter, it feels warming in its way.
This feels more like an illustrated poem than most picture books do for me. And in a way, felt very haiku like without actually fitting in the standard style. But the elements are there, with vivid imagery of nature, and simple but lovely turn of phrases, still telling a story with each 'stanza'. The story overall is very simple, but in a good way, and left me smiling a little wistful by the end.
I thought the artwork was interesting, and stylistic, matching the almost simpleness of the words. The scribbled style of the fur for the bears work for me, though I think anywhere else I'd be a little annoyed by it. I do love how detailed in ways the backgrounds are, and how many other animals are featured on each of the pages. Definitely will keep the kidlets entertained as they're being read to!
I'd like to thank the publisher via Edelweiss for allowing me a digital ARC of this.
November 10, 2016
A Bear's Year is about a mother bear and her two cubs. It starts off with the mother and her cubs walking up from their winter hibernation. Through a book long poem the bears go through their seasonal lives. The bears wander through the woods eating the foods that are in season such as berries, grubs, fish and honey. As the seasons change and its starts to get colder the bears prepare for the winter getting fat and growing thicker fur. Winter comes the bears snuggle in for their winter hibernation, with the one year old cubs realizing they will soon be on their own.
Genre: Poetry, Informational
I chose this book because it was suggested to me by the Seattle public librarian. She said it was a very fun book for young children to read and had a pretty simplistic but accurate account of the life of bears. I couldn't agree more
Grade Level: k-3
I would use this book to help teach fluency. The poetry structure and rhyming would really help students develop the correct flow for reading this book.
Genre: Poetry, Informational
I chose this book because it was suggested to me by the Seattle public librarian. She said it was a very fun book for young children to read and had a pretty simplistic but accurate account of the life of bears. I couldn't agree more
Grade Level: k-3
I would use this book to help teach fluency. The poetry structure and rhyming would really help students develop the correct flow for reading this book.
March 15, 2016
This is a gorgeous nonfiction picture book that let's the reader look at a year in the life of a bear. Told in rhyming text, we start the book as the bear starts to sleep for the winter, cuddling her newborn cubs. Next comes spring as the bears awaken and explore the world. The cubs have so much to learn over the summer. In the fall it's time to dig a new den and get ready for another winter. The illustrations, drawings and screen printing, were pieced together digitally. Maybe it's because I've been especially tired lately, but I absolutely adore the pictures of the bears snuggled together in their cozy den for the winter. This is a great book to enjoy for all ages, and I would love to have a copy for my classroom library.
December 3, 2015
Kathy Duval’s picture book A Bear’s Year (Illustrated by Gerry Turley) is a delight, but it is more than that. Targeted to children aged 3-7, the book is a life lesson. Not only will children learn about the life cycle of the brown bear, but they will learn of the changing seasons. These lessons are packaged in engaging rhyme. Added to this enchantment are Turley’s perfectly charming illustrations. He has created beautiful, almost childlike, paintings to go with Duval’s verse. Children will love seeing the pictures and hearing the text.The book is a perfect gift for young children in this upcoming gift-giving season and all year long.
November 17, 2015
I have a new book for my storytime collection! Over the years, I've really come to appreciate authors and illustrators that know the art of simple, yet evocative. The younger the child, the less busy a book should be, and this is doubly true in a read-a-loud situation.
Bear's year spans a year, but does it with a small menu of words and very precise and simple illustrations. This makes it a book that you could read to babies or pre-schoolers.
Bear's year spans a year, but does it with a small menu of words and very precise and simple illustrations. This makes it a book that you could read to babies or pre-schoolers.
November 15, 2015
A beautifully illustrated tale about the yearly life of bear's, including how cubs grow and learn such things as catching fish and foraging from their mother. Using succinct text, Duval communicates the essentials for young children while Turley's illustrations will enchant listeners. Highly recommended.
November 20, 2015
This book reminded me of Karma Wilson's "Bear Snores On", but in a more serious and realistic depiction of family of bears growing and enjoying the different seasons. The digitally pieced drawn and screen printed illustrations beautifully complement the gently rhyming text. Probably would be good as a read aloud on bears or seasons, but definitely good for a one-on-one lapsit read.
January 9, 2016
After a long winter’s sleep, Mama Bear wakes up with her cubs in the spring. All year long, the cubs learn everything Mama Bear teaches them about survival in the woods. Then comes the next winter and they all go back to their cave for another winter’s hibernation.
http://julianaleewriter.com/books-ali...
http://julianaleewriter.com/books-ali...
January 6, 2016
Gorgeous illustrations and peaceful ambiance but the rhythm feels off in several places.
Storytime nitpick: one particularly awkward stanza stands out ("First snow falls./ Bears stay warm,/ nestled close/ in Earth's safe arms"). It's tricky to say aloud and doesn't really rhyme (though maybe it does for Texan author?).
Storytime nitpick: one particularly awkward stanza stands out ("First snow falls./ Bears stay warm,/ nestled close/ in Earth's safe arms"). It's tricky to say aloud and doesn't really rhyme (though maybe it does for Texan author?).
February 20, 2016
A simple book recounting a year in the life of a bear and her cubs. The text rhymes, which adds a lyrical quality and supports phonemic awareness to boot. The book is ideal for younger children, as it is not too text heavy and there is very little narrative (it is more akin to a poem than a story). The illustration style is interesting, but not arresting.
March 24, 2016
The topic, focus and format is a bit familiar making it less distinguishable from similar books, but this book of seasonal change through the life of a bear family is beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written in verse. Young children can read and acquire information about seasons and bears if that is a desired outcome.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews