The Bears Shared

by Kim Norman, David Walker (Illustrator)

A rollicking picture book that celebrates finding warmth and shelter during a springtime storm.

This is the lair the bears shared.
This is the hair that came from the lair the bears shared.
This is the bird that borrowed the hair
to build a nest
in a tall, tall tree
with branches that thrashed in thunder that crashed . . .
and the story of how animals find home and family among it all!

With rhythmic text by Kim Norman and adorable artwork by David Walker, The Bears Shared is a great read-aloud for animal lovers, nature enthusiasts, and children and grown-ups with love to share.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Birds, Storytime, Juvenile

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2023

About the author

Kim Norman is the author of more than a dozen children’s books published by Sterling, Scholastic and two Penguin imprints. Titles include Ten on the Sled, (Sterling) which spent weeks on Barnes and Noble’s Top Ten bestseller list and has been released in Korean and German editions as well as appearing in Scholastic Book Fairs in schools around North America. I Know a Wee Piggy, was reviewed in the New York Times, and is listed on the Texas “2x2 Reading List,” as well being offered by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Kim has a long history of theater & musical performing, which she enjoys including in her school visits and presentations. Songs and videos on her website, kimnormanbooks.com

Reviews

[Barbara]

Based on the sequence rhyme of the House that Jack Built, The Bears Shared by Kim Norman tells the story of the bear and bird families and how they share the forest. The bears shed their fur and mama bird comes along and makes a nest from it for her babies. However, it doesn’t hold up to the stormy weather and trouble ensues. This is a fun read for kids 2 –6. You might try making up a sequencing rhyme of your own at home!

[Alice]

4 stars for this rhyming title that celebrates one way nature makes good neighbors

I read a digital advanced reader's copy courtesy of the publisher

[Leah Unger]

A great book to share with young readers about nature and how animals of all kinds help each other.

[Leova Manbhat]

Sweet story of how a bear family shares their lair with a bird family caught in a storm.

[Carlos]

Enjoyable story that skipped the predictable and instead delivered clever word play. Sweet art style and illustrations.

[Max]

I didn't like this book because it wasn't funny, and it wasn't cool.

[Beth Bauman]

Fantastic rhyme scheme, great repetition, sweet illustrations, and I love the simple but engaging storyline. Well done all round!

[Alexa]

I think this would be really fun to make a flannel for.

[SamSamSam]

The text! It was so great! And the art was quite whimsical. Phonological awareness, vocabulary. Definitely prek+

[Margaret Boling]

12/2/2023 ~ A cumulative story (i.e. This is the House that Jack Built) with just enough breaks in the pattern to keep the story interesting. Backmatter includes info about birds.

[Cydney Elliott]

Beautifully illustrated and fun rhythms from start to finish.

[KhiN’Millie Friesen]

Do birds really use the bear hair to make their nest? -Khi 4

[Chrissy]

Storytime: Bears, Birds, Baby and Me

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady]

meh. kind of pretty, cutesy little illustrations, but not a lot to the story.

[Tara DuBose-Schmitt]

Repetitive, but that’s kind of the genre. However, bears eat birds so the ending is implausible.

[Jessica]

In the style of the house that Jack built. The illustrations were so cute! I loved the birds. Really adorable story with a nice ending. This would be great for babies and toddlers.

[Anita]

Might be too heavy on the build upon rhymes for me. Definitely turns into a tongue twister!