A Bear is a Bear

by Karl Newson, Anuska Allepuz (Illustrator)

A funny rhyming romp about an adorably baffled bear with an identity crisis.

When one sleepy bear wakes up early from his winter sleep, he's confused. Is he a bird? Or a moose? A fox perhaps? Or even a squirrel? No! He's definitely a bear, and it's time this bear went back to sleep...

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Nature, Humor, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2018

About the author

Karl Newson writes for the children’s book blog The Mudwaffler and contributes to The Creative Attic, an online publication of illustrated poetry. For All the Stars Across the Sky is his debut picture book. He lives in England.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a bear is a bear.
Except when he’s not...
What would he be if a bear forgot?

Bear is so confused; he’s awake too early in December and can’t figure out what he is. Maybe he’s a moose, a bird, or a squirrel? Could he be a fox? He doesn’t fit the description for any of these creatures, so what on earth is he? One thing bear knows for certain is that he’s tired and grumpy. He settles back down for a nice nap and awaits spring. Will Bear ever come to his senses?

This is such an adorable book that kids will fall in love with. The rhyming story is simple, yet interesting and charming. I don’t think I’ve read a children’s book this year quite as colorful as this one either. It’s sure to put a smile on your little one’s face.

5*****

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect rhyming book for young readers! Follow along with bear as he imagines what it would be like if he were all sorts of different animals and critters. He may even try to be some of them too...
-Alyssa C.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short and strange little story.
It doesn't really have a lesson or reason to it, but that makes it no less adorable.
The illustrations are beautiful.

I think tiny humans will enjoy the simple rhyming text and get a giggle from the bears adventures.
Thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for my DRC.

[Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly fun and silly picture book about a bear who is obviously experiencing sleep exhaustion. The illustrations are bright and done in a style that makes me happy just looking at them. Recommended for a fun story time or bedtime read.

This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bear is a bear except when he is not...
How silly and cute is this?! A little bear tries to be everything he isnt because he has forgotten what he is. No hidden or deeper meanings here just a simple and sweet little rhyming book.

My favorite thing about this particular book is the illustrations. The bright colors used are stunning and will be sure to catch small readers eyes.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5/5. This children book was fun! We have a bear who asked himself what would he be if he wasn’t a bear. And then we explore the idea with him and then move to another animal, etc. This was just a fun silly ride, no message, no morale, but fun and entertaining. I find myself surprise of how much I enjoy it, which is a good thing!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een heel grappig boek over een slaperige beer die.... niet meer weet wat hij nou is. Ja, wij zien duidelijk dat hij een grote ronde beer is, maar onze beer heeft dat totaal niet door. En dat leidt tot hilarische situaties als de beer probeert uit te vinden wat hij dan wel is. Zo probeert hij te vliegen, elegante dansjes doen, en meer. Dit allemaal met leuke rijm wat het boek nog energieker en grappiger maakte. De beer doet uiteindelijk wat ik ook zou hebben gedaan. Slapen. En hopen dat je het daarna wel weer weet. Heerlijk om te lezen.
Oh en de illustraties waren ook leuk, al vond ik het wel mooi hoe rond de beer was.

[Anina | lukukartano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karhu on karhu.
Tai ehkä joku muu...
Mikä se sitten on,
jos karhuus unohtuu?

Karhu potee identiteettikriisiä mukavasti riimitellyssä kuvakirjassa, jossa on tosi tosi kiva kuvitus. Pohdintaa erilaisuudesta ja myöskin siitä, miten tärkeää onkaan muistaa mennä ajoissa unten maille. Nukkukaa, hyvät ihmiset (ja karhut)!

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book 📖. The pictures are so colorful. A big hit with the little ones today.

[Alex Sarll]

If not for the Event we'd have been meeting bears yesterday, but by way of a consolation prize I got this from Netgalley. The plot, even by picturebook standards, doesn't make a lick of sense - we're none of us at our best if we wake up too early, but forgetting one's own species suggests the bear must have been on quite the bender the season before. Still, the art has found a sweet spot in terms of being at once stylised, evocative, recognisable and warm, and the story serves as an excuse for the delightfully round bear to get into mild predicaments, look endearingly confused, and generally warm the heart.

[Marzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for toddlers.
The story is very simple but the rhyming prose and the beautiful and cute illustrations are really charming.
The illustations are for sure the best part of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the ARC copy.

[Pooja Banga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be a perfect storytime read aloud with its use of repetition.

What fascinated me the most about this book was illustrations!


Thankyou Netgalley and publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable picture book about figuring out who you are and accepting yourself.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a bear is a bear.
Except when he's not...
What would he be if a bear forgot?


I am sucker for cute confused bears. This little bear imagines if he was something different in the forest but because he is a bear, it just doesn't work out. You are you except when you are not can get you in all kinds of trouble. We are never happy trying to be something that we are not.

A Special Thank You to Candlewick Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable, beautifully illustrated and bears expressions slayed me!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story of what happens when a bear awakens too early from hibernation and is so disoriented he can't remember what animal he is.

So, we see the bear trying to be a bird, but he can't fly, and a moose, but he doesn't like grass and a squirrel, but he has trouble climbing trees.

Each time he sees an animal he thinks that might be who he is.

Kids will find it amazing that the bear has forgotten. A good book to discuss the silliness of it all, as well as how groggy one is when you wake up from a nap too soon.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book availablel for an honest review.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

La simpática y colorida obra gráfica infantil, narra cómo un oso que se despierta en plena hibernación no recuerda quién es. Así que, recorre el monte preguntado a los distintos animalitos que va encontrando.
Un sencillo pero encantador cuento, en dónde vemos cambios de estación y varia fauna: como el pájaro, la ardilla, el Ciervo y el zorro. Su línea narrativa es rimada, endulzando aún más, el aspecto del tierno y vistoso librito.
Posee un mensaje subliminal acerca de la importancia del descanso, y por ende, de encontrarse con uno mismo…pero esto, quizá, es ir demasiado lejos en una obra para los primeros lectores. ¡aunque quién sabe!
Las ilustraciones son muy coloridas y a grandes trazos. El dibujo del osito es algo inusual, pero igualmente gracioso.
Un buen libro para los más peques.

[Bettendorf Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear has forgotten he is a bear. When he sets out on a journey to find out what animal he is, he discovers that maybe what he needs most of all is some sleep.
— Christine

[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Originally Published Here: https://ashlynmadani.wixsite.com/them...

A Bear is a Bear (except when he's not) by Karl Newson is about a bear! The bear in the story forgot that he was a bear, so he goes around thinking he is different animals. At first, he thinks he is a bird, but he cannot fly. Then, he thinks he is a moose and a fox, but quickly realizes he is not. At this point, the bear seems so sad sitting in the snow wondering what he is. Suddenly, he sees a squirrel and starts climbing up the tree after him, soon realizing that he is not a squirrel and is too high. Finally, the bear makes it back to his cave and falls back asleep because it is only December. Once he wakes up in spring, he finally remembers that he is a bear.

This was such a cute story. I loved the illustrations and rhyming throughout the book. The author did a great job of capturing how frustrated the bear must be not remembering what he is. I would buy this as a board book for Emmett if they had one, but since they don't, I would recommend this for ages 2.5 to 6 years old. This reminds me of Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman, but a better version. Except, the bear just forgot he was a bear, and the bird doesn't know who its mother is. I will definitely consider Karl Newson's books when Emmett gets older because I thought this was a cute and fun book to read.

I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sophie Snowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful rhyming picture book, in which the rhymes show the bears feelings and worries in a gentle way. The bear is trying to remember who he is. He's exploring this world but somehow, this world doesn't look quite right. After a long walk, trying to discover who he is, the bear decides to go to sleep, waking up in the spring after hibernation. A special story.
This book would be a lovely class read aloud, and could have connections to science when exploring nature and habitats, as well as hibernation. I really enjoyed the illustrative style of this story, mixed media works really well and adds to the detail of the book.

[Ms. Arca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly rhyming poem about a Bear who forgets who he is and tries to be other animals.

The repetition and rhyming could be fun. I picture this as an at home read, but can also see it as an opener of a convo about being who you are/copying/trying things out and finding our own ways (I’m imagining 2nd grade).

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Gita · Rating 3 out of 5]

عنوان فارسی: خرس خرس است (مگر وقت‌هایی که خرس نیست
مترجم: محمد آرا
انتشارات نارنگی (کتاب کودک و نوجوان انتشارات واله)

داستان یک خرس است که یک وقت‌هایی یادش نیست خرس است. وقتی یادش برود، آن وقت چه موجودی است؟
تا نیمه‌های کتاب خیلی خوب بود ولی از یک جایی به بعد ترجمه‌ی کتاب آهنگین شد که بنظرم تناسبی نداشت و متن را خراب کرده بود. نمی‌دانم متن اصلی چه‌طور است.
تصاویرش هم خیلی بامزه بود.

[Literature Lattes · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Bear Is a Bear (except when he's not)" is such a cute children's book from author Karl Newson. The book tells the story of a bear who forgets who he is. He wanders around the forest pretending to be other animals, but quickly realizing that it just doesn't work that way. Will he ever remember who he is?

The story was simple but adorable. My children and I loved the colorful illustrations and the different woodland characters. The story did have some repetition in it, so my children soon learned the flow of the story and could anticipate what might happen. We were able to make predictions which was a good way to get the kids really engaged in the tale. We really enjoyed the end and seeing the entire story come together. This book is wonderful for children and adults to read together.

[Mayski L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankyou Netgalley and publisher for providing me a e-copy in exchange for a honest review.

We LOVE this delightful little story! My kids are 3 yr old and 5 yr old so it was educational with the repetition of some of the wording. Also it kept them interested with rhymes. It’s a simple, silly story about a bear that forgets it’s a bear. The illustrations really bring out the colorful ness of the story. Highly recommend for kids in preschool to kindergarten. Also great for storytime or bedtime reading.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story about a bear basically going through an existential crisis. The text has a simple, rhyming flow that would make for a good read-aloud. We get to see the bear try to be different forest animals. We learn bear didn't necessarily forget who he is but he is tired and needs to hibernate! The illustrations are bright and colorful and cute. #Netgalley

[Danielle Bailleu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bear wakes up early from hibernation and doesn't remember what he is! This book takes us on a fun, silly journey as this bear tries to remember what he is. I love the rhymes and the artwork is stunning! This is definitely a book I would read over and over again to my two young kids.

This book was given to me an an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

[Boom! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rhyming books with delightful illustrations.

[Dontreadlikethem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books like this remind me of a great replacement for Are You My Mother? I imagine reading this to a kindergarten class and hearing them giggle. I love a book that adds in a little non fiction about animals. Children ages 4 and up.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. The pictures are so cute and colorful. The colors used were striking. The silly bear had the kids I read to giggling. They loved trying to guess what he would be next. The rhyming text flowed well and fit well. It's a good read that the kids will want to read more than once!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet story with beautiful illustrations.
Sometimes a Bear just needs to be in their cave sleeping. 🐻