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The Bear and the Moon
The Bear and the Moon is a picture book that follows what happens when the gift of a balloon floats into Bear's life.
The two companions embark on a journey—a magical tale that encompasses the joys of friendship and discovery.
This is a gentle book filled with humor, while tackling complex topics like the transcendence of loss and forgiveness.
• Filled with emotive text and radiant illustrations
• Simply told and profoundly felt
• Award winning author-illustrator team
The Bear and the Moon is a compassionate tale that honors the small but profound world of the very young.
This sweet book teaches social and emotional skills to kids, and offers a clever way to soothe some of our most difficult feelings: loss and guilt.
The two companions embark on a journey—a magical tale that encompasses the joys of friendship and discovery.
This is a gentle book filled with humor, while tackling complex topics like the transcendence of loss and forgiveness.
• Filled with emotive text and radiant illustrations
• Simply told and profoundly felt
• Award winning author-illustrator team
The Bear and the Moon is a compassionate tale that honors the small but profound world of the very young.
This sweet book teaches social and emotional skills to kids, and offers a clever way to soothe some of our most difficult feelings: loss and guilt.
52 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
251 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
February 12, 2021
Both happy and sad, this is an emotional book. A bear befriends a balloon. It reminded me of Brian Lies's The Rough Patch which deals with a similar subject. IMHO, The Bear and the Moon is much sadder.
July 18, 2020
Soft and gentle storytelling that floats like the balloon across the pages. A sublimely illustrated tale of experiencing found joy and sudden pain, and the comfort of a sweet memory.
December 24, 2020
Oh the conversations this book, told in a gentle voice, can spark...loss, grief, remembrance, shame, essential goodness. I didn’t expect it, but was overwhelmed with the heart in this one.
August 31, 2020
What a GORGEOUS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness. I am new to the illustrations of Catia Chien but I am such a fan now! The entire book is a journey through stunning artistic masterpieces. Each and every page is a unique visualization of Matthew Burgess's touching tale of a bear and its beloved balloon. (I CAN SO RELATE to this divine love between my own child and a balloon that eventually popped.)
The Bear and the Moon really captures joy and love and loss and grief (and healing!) in such a relatable way. It may only be a balloon, but Bear loves the balloon. Each page is full of authentic emotional expression that really resonates with me and when the balloon pops, the heartbreak is palpable. Thank goodness for the full moon that salves the little bear's broken heart!
Matthew Burgess has created a timeless classic and Catia Chien's art is worthy of the world's finest museums. 10 stars!
The Bear and the Moon really captures joy and love and loss and grief (and healing!) in such a relatable way. It may only be a balloon, but Bear loves the balloon. Each page is full of authentic emotional expression that really resonates with me and when the balloon pops, the heartbreak is palpable. Thank goodness for the full moon that salves the little bear's broken heart!
Matthew Burgess has created a timeless classic and Catia Chien's art is worthy of the world's finest museums. 10 stars!
October 10, 2020
There is something universally resonant about a bear befriending a red balloon. This delightful picture book enchants the reader from the first page and demands a second and third reading. A highly allegorical story that will appeal to readers of all ages.
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November 1, 2020This is a poignant and starkly beautiful picture book about a bear who finds and befriends a red balloon. I love the saturated colors in the artwork and the expressiveness of the bear.
December 3, 2020
Not me crying over a baby bear and his best friend balloon. Nope.
Come for the cuteness, stay for the gentle words and exquisite art.
Come for the cuteness, stay for the gentle words and exquisite art.
November 11, 2022
touching, heart-warming, beautiful book.
November 14, 2020
So beautiful!
October 7, 2020
3.5 stars--Sweet, gentle book with lovely illustrations and themes of friendship, loss, and memory. Since we know all of the litter problems balloons cause when released into nature, I'm not a huge fan of books that show wildlife having fun with them. As long as that aspect is kept squarely in the realm of fantasy, this is a sweet little book.
January 18, 2021
I’m a sucker for a cute bear story as much as the next school librarian, but this was too weird for me.
December 7, 2020
I was weirdly won over by this cute little book! I usually try not to get caught up in how cute a picture book is, because there are loads of great books and being simply cute isn't really enough for me. But the illustrations are so so so lovely and and the text is so mellow. Even though the story was a little goofy, it didn't feel ham-fisted like so many similar picture books do. This surprised me, I guess.
February 4, 2021
I loved this book. It touches some important emotions for children so I would use it for children in
younger years but for studying the language I would use either year 5 or 6. The love the illustrations as they are very abstract like and the story is lovely.
younger years but for studying the language I would use either year 5 or 6. The love the illustrations as they are very abstract like and the story is lovely.
October 23, 2020
Amazing, gorgeous, incredible.
The Bear and the Moon tells the story about a bear cub who finds a balloon and spends a few days playing with it, before accidentally popping it. The book is surprisingly profound. The loss of the balloon feels to the bear like the loss of a friend, and the book could be read as a gentle exploration of death. The cub also feels shame after popping the balloon, "The sky had sent him a gift, a friend, a small red moon. And now it was gone. Bad bear, he thought. Bad, bad, bear" This negative self-talk is later countered by an encounter with the moon, "It reached down to him and gently stroked his fur. Quietly, the moon was speaking to the bear, and the bear understood. Good bear. Kind bear. Don't worry, bear." What a great, great starting point for caregivers with children who experience anxiety, self-doubt, and negative self talk to teach children to be kind to themselves. (and what a great reminder for adults who experience the same things as well!)
While I loved the book for the deeper metaphorical readings one could have, it's also a joyful, silly book. I love and have loved Cátia Chien for ages now, and her illustrations bring so much fun to the book. You can tell she worked in comics in some parts, as the bear seems to move in a sequential, comic-book style action sequence, but without the rigid borders of a comic. In fact, the book seems to have no rigidity at all. There's no hard lines, even the bear himself is drawn like a giant, fuzzy scribble. The language in parts of the book is a delight, too. I laughed when Burgess described the bear tumbling "into a furry puddle" and again when the bear is showing the balloon around and announces, "And this is the spot where I sit on the pot."
CALDECOTT WINNER 2020?!?!
The Bear and the Moon tells the story about a bear cub who finds a balloon and spends a few days playing with it, before accidentally popping it. The book is surprisingly profound. The loss of the balloon feels to the bear like the loss of a friend, and the book could be read as a gentle exploration of death. The cub also feels shame after popping the balloon, "The sky had sent him a gift, a friend, a small red moon. And now it was gone. Bad bear, he thought. Bad, bad, bear" This negative self-talk is later countered by an encounter with the moon, "It reached down to him and gently stroked his fur. Quietly, the moon was speaking to the bear, and the bear understood. Good bear. Kind bear. Don't worry, bear." What a great, great starting point for caregivers with children who experience anxiety, self-doubt, and negative self talk to teach children to be kind to themselves. (and what a great reminder for adults who experience the same things as well!)
While I loved the book for the deeper metaphorical readings one could have, it's also a joyful, silly book. I love and have loved Cátia Chien for ages now, and her illustrations bring so much fun to the book. You can tell she worked in comics in some parts, as the bear seems to move in a sequential, comic-book style action sequence, but without the rigid borders of a comic. In fact, the book seems to have no rigidity at all. There's no hard lines, even the bear himself is drawn like a giant, fuzzy scribble. The language in parts of the book is a delight, too. I laughed when Burgess described the bear tumbling "into a furry puddle" and again when the bear is showing the balloon around and announces, "And this is the spot where I sit on the pot."
CALDECOTT WINNER 2020?!?!
February 13, 2021
God, this book is so unbelievably precious. It uses colour and a beautiful candense to narrate the playfulness of new friendship, goes over loss and grief, and finishes with hope and the feeling of self-acceptance. A beautiful book to read to your little ones, and an essential to have on your shelf.
January 1, 2021
Every now and then, along comes a picture book that actually does work for everyone.
Bought as a present for my 2-year-old who loves the moon. He loves it.
Read with him and my 6-year-old who is often very hard on himself for the mistakes he makes. He loves and I think kinda needed it.
Read by me, the mom who appreciates gentle messages and the chance to breathe and slow down. I loved it.
I read a lot of picture books. I am careful about what I mark as being for all ages...but this one is. I'd read it for toddler storytime, I'd read it with a class of 4th graders, I'd read it to my group of adult moms. This is fast gonna become a favorite of ours.
Bought as a present for my 2-year-old who loves the moon. He loves it.
Read with him and my 6-year-old who is often very hard on himself for the mistakes he makes. He loves and I think kinda needed it.
Read by me, the mom who appreciates gentle messages and the chance to breathe and slow down. I loved it.
I read a lot of picture books. I am careful about what I mark as being for all ages...but this one is. I'd read it for toddler storytime, I'd read it with a class of 4th graders, I'd read it to my group of adult moms. This is fast gonna become a favorite of ours.
October 1, 2020
Charming story with out of this world, gorgeous illustrations. One of my top favorite picture books of 2020. Most assuredly a 2021 Caldecott contender. A must have for a children's library.
June 23, 2021
A bear finds a new playmate in a balloon. preschool and up
July 6, 2021
Format Read: eBook
Cover Art: 4 stars
Library Buy: Yes
My Review: This is one of the Surrey Schools Picture Book of the Year nominees for the 2021-2022 school year. It's a sweet, whimsical, heartbreaking, and life-affirming book all wrapped up in one lovely package. I'm positive it will be a favourite with the kiddos!
Cover Art: 4 stars
Library Buy: Yes
My Review: This is one of the Surrey Schools Picture Book of the Year nominees for the 2021-2022 school year. It's a sweet, whimsical, heartbreaking, and life-affirming book all wrapped up in one lovely package. I'm positive it will be a favourite with the kiddos!
October 14, 2021
Read as an ebook on Scribd
Are ebooks next? Reading this picture book, which I've wanted to read but there wasn't a copy available either on audiobook or from the library, has led me to believe that might happen. At least with picture books. Those would probably be easier than a book with more text than pictures.
Are ebooks next? Reading this picture book, which I've wanted to read but there wasn't a copy available either on audiobook or from the library, has led me to believe that might happen. At least with picture books. Those would probably be easier than a book with more text than pictures.
May 3, 2022
I wasn't prepared for this book to make me cry, twice! Super sweet, also a gentle and beautiful opportunity to talk to a kiddo about love, loss, and not thinking of yourself as a bad person when something goes awry.
October 15, 2021
I loved this story and I believe children who love balloons will love this story.
December 16, 2020
Bear finds a small red “moon” one day and not only does he love the light his new friend emits but also he loves playing and flying with the moon. The moon is actually an orangish red balloon that stands out against the dark charcoal and pastel watercolor backgrounds throughout. One day when playing with the balloon, the balloon bursts, and Bear cannot put it back together again. Bear feels sad, as if he has broken the real moon until that night the actual moon shines down on Bear letting him know that everything is going to be alright and that the moon will never stop shining. This story is simple but heartwarming and teaches an important lesson: don’t make mountains out of mole hills. We all make mistakes, but they are never big enough to extinguish the light completely if we let ourselves see it. I read this e-book for free on the Hoopla app through my library.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2020
A good new addition to social emotional learning.
December 17, 2020
Beautifully illustrated picture book that tackles finding joy, dealing with loss, and forgiveness. Loved.
December 15, 2020
Yup, I totally teared up in the end. Little Bear, I hear you...
December 12, 2020
Delightfully gentle and unassuming, elegant in its simplicity. Superb illustrations by Cátia Chien.
December 7, 2020
*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher*
This is a lovely gentle book about making mistakes and being forgiven. I am not sure of the best audience. I don’t know that younger readers will get it, and the text is a bit simple for older kids. But I will be happy to add it to my collection so that maybe it will reach the right kid.
This is a lovely gentle book about making mistakes and being forgiven. I am not sure of the best audience. I don’t know that younger readers will get it, and the text is a bit simple for older kids. But I will be happy to add it to my collection so that maybe it will reach the right kid.
November 28, 2020
sweet black bear cub spots & “tried to catch” a “red dot” (balloon), takes it on a “tour”, considers it a friend; but what inevitably happens to this new friend?... simple, youthful yet heart-tugging
November 19, 2020
A subtle exploration of loss, grief, and self-forgiveness for children. Bear will tug at your heartstrings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews