Friendly Bear

by Robert Bright

This is about Matt, who likes stories;the Friendly Bear, who likes honey;and Wise Grandpa, whoknows what everybody likes.

Genres: Picture Books

27 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Robert Bright was born on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1902 and passed away in San Francisco in 1988. He spent his childhood in Europe and completed his education at Phillips Academy, Andover, and Princeton University.

His vocations included those of newspaper reporter in Baltimore and Paris, art and music critic in Sante Fe, New Mexico, teacher in Boston, and novelist. Believing that "the imaginative child in the imaginative man is fortunately never far away," Mr. Bright has delighted in writing his numerous books for children. Many of these star Georgie, the friendly little ghost who first appeared in 1944 and has been charming young readers on both sides of the Atlantic ever since.

Reviews

[Anne V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I unearthed a hardback copy of this book, copyright 1957, in our attic. What a treasure! Apparently it was purchased for me at a bookstore in Elgin, IL, probably by my grandparents or parents. I like the opening words: "This is Matt, who likes a story . . . This is the Friendly Bear, who likes honey . . . This is Wise Grampa, who lives in the house over the hill . . . And this is what happened one day . . . " The black/white/brown drawings pop from the page. Delightful!

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this today and read it to the kids blind, but it looked wholesome so I wasn't too worried. And it is wholesome! Basically, the little boy seeks out his grandfather, but when grampa isn't home, he dresses a friendly bear up like him. When the friendly bear reveals he can't read (or talk) because he's a bear, grampa shows up, gets the bear some honey and then reads to his grandson.