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A Bear Tale
To slump or not to slump? That is Ted's question...Do you look wise when you slump? Join Ted on a journey exploring wisdom, the slumps of bears and the 'wiseness' of owls.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
10 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ingpen
173 books44 followersRobert Roger Ingpen (AM) (born 13 October 1936) is an Australian graphic designer, illustrator, and author. He received the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in 1986, recognizing his "lasting contribution to children's literature".
Ingpen was born in Geelong Australia and attended Geelong College to 1957. He graduated with a Diploma of Graphic Art from RMIT where he studied with Harold Freedman.
In 1958, Ingpen was appointed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) as an artist to interpret and communicate the results of scientific research. From 1968 Ingpen worked as a freelance designer, illustrator and author. He was also a member of a United Nations team in Mexico and Peru until 1975, where he designed pamphlets on fisheries and was involved in "a number of Australian conservation and environmental projects". He left the CSIRO to work full-time as a freelance writer in 1968. Ingpen's interest in conservation issues continued, and he was one of the founding members of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Ingpen has written and/or-illustrated more than 100 published books. These include children's picture books and fictional stories for all ages. His nonfiction books mostly relate to history, conservation, environment and health issues. He is a frequent collaborator with author and editor Michael Page.
Ingpen has designed many postage stamps for Australia. Ingpen designed the flag and coat of arms for the Northern Territory. Ingpen has created a number of public murals in Geelong, Melbourne, Canberra and the Gold Coast in Queensland. He also has designed bronze statues, which include the 'Poppykettle Fountain' in Geelong's Steam Packet Gardens (currently dry due to drought restrictions) and the bronze doors to the Melbourne Cricket Club. His most recent work is the design and working drawings for a tapestry, which was woven by The Victorian Tapestry Workshop, to celebrate the 150 years of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In 1982 Ingpen designed the Dromkeen Medal for the Governors of the Courtney Oldmeadow Children’s Literature Foundation. This medal is awarded annually to Australians in recognition of contributions to children's literature. He was awarded the medal in 1989 for his own work in the field.
Ingpen was illustrator for the centenary editions of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy and Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows for which he bases characterisations on contemporary figures and personalities.
In 2007 Ingpen illustrated a picture book by Liz Lofthouse called Ziba Came on a Boat, which was nominated for many Australian awards including the Australian Children's Book Council Awards and the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards.
Ingpen was born in Geelong Australia and attended Geelong College to 1957. He graduated with a Diploma of Graphic Art from RMIT where he studied with Harold Freedman.
In 1958, Ingpen was appointed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) as an artist to interpret and communicate the results of scientific research. From 1968 Ingpen worked as a freelance designer, illustrator and author. He was also a member of a United Nations team in Mexico and Peru until 1975, where he designed pamphlets on fisheries and was involved in "a number of Australian conservation and environmental projects". He left the CSIRO to work full-time as a freelance writer in 1968. Ingpen's interest in conservation issues continued, and he was one of the founding members of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Ingpen has written and/or-illustrated more than 100 published books. These include children's picture books and fictional stories for all ages. His nonfiction books mostly relate to history, conservation, environment and health issues. He is a frequent collaborator with author and editor Michael Page.
Ingpen has designed many postage stamps for Australia. Ingpen designed the flag and coat of arms for the Northern Territory. Ingpen has created a number of public murals in Geelong, Melbourne, Canberra and the Gold Coast in Queensland. He also has designed bronze statues, which include the 'Poppykettle Fountain' in Geelong's Steam Packet Gardens (currently dry due to drought restrictions) and the bronze doors to the Melbourne Cricket Club. His most recent work is the design and working drawings for a tapestry, which was woven by The Victorian Tapestry Workshop, to celebrate the 150 years of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In 1982 Ingpen designed the Dromkeen Medal for the Governors of the Courtney Oldmeadow Children’s Literature Foundation. This medal is awarded annually to Australians in recognition of contributions to children's literature. He was awarded the medal in 1989 for his own work in the field.
Ingpen was illustrator for the centenary editions of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy and Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows for which he bases characterisations on contemporary figures and personalities.
In 2007 Ingpen illustrated a picture book by Liz Lofthouse called Ziba Came on a Boat, which was nominated for many Australian awards including the Australian Children's Book Council Awards and the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 14, 2014
As I really like the illustrative work of Robert Ingpen, I thought to myself, "I could do with an illustrated book for young children by this man, to give to [my nephew] for a present." So I attacked the list on GR, and found this little gem.
My nephew really likes bears and owls, so the cover was practically designed for him. I found a second hand copy in good condition, bought for a song, and that was that.
Then I read it...
(Well actually, I glanced at the pictures, thought this is nice, he'll like this, and then my mum read it, and told me it was very good, and that I had to read it first...)
I think, on the whole, it's more well suited for me than for my presently three year old nephew. It's a philosophical tome, on the nature of wisdom, it's acquisition with age, and who really knows what it is anyway? But on top of that, it's a valiant attempt at getting people to stop slouching all the damn time. I've definitely had that lecture an above average number of times in my life, and the aches in my back attest to the fact I still needed to read this book today.
Perhaps in a couple of years or so, he will benefit from it, philosophically, but in the mean time, he'll just like the lovely pictures of the owls and bears and their conversations. The socratic element will have to wait.
NB. Turns out this is the second of two books, a long delayed sequel to a much older story - this has been ordered...
My nephew really likes bears and owls, so the cover was practically designed for him. I found a second hand copy in good condition, bought for a song, and that was that.
Then I read it...
(Well actually, I glanced at the pictures, thought this is nice, he'll like this, and then my mum read it, and told me it was very good, and that I had to read it first...)
I think, on the whole, it's more well suited for me than for my presently three year old nephew. It's a philosophical tome, on the nature of wisdom, it's acquisition with age, and who really knows what it is anyway? But on top of that, it's a valiant attempt at getting people to stop slouching all the damn time. I've definitely had that lecture an above average number of times in my life, and the aches in my back attest to the fact I still needed to read this book today.
Perhaps in a couple of years or so, he will benefit from it, philosophically, but in the mean time, he'll just like the lovely pictures of the owls and bears and their conversations. The socratic element will have to wait.
NB. Turns out this is the second of two books, a long delayed sequel to a much older story - this has been ordered...
September 19, 2020
Somehow this book sneaked into my collection without being catalogued. And I just found it by accident when going to review it. As with most of Ingpen's books, I bought it for the illustrations....and somewhere I have some of these illustrations in a compendium of Ingpen's works. (Actually, I just went and checked and it's not the same book ...that is called the idle bear and was written for their first grandchild in 1986. But same Bear. I'm intrigued about the technique used. It looks like coloured pencil ..with an overlay of graphite pencil but maybe there is some crayon there as well ....hard to tell. But it doesn't seem to be watercolour. Anyway, as always, lovely illustrations. Not sure about the story. Kind of ok but didn't really grab me. I wonder how it is for children?
Loved his collection of owls. Now that I think about it, I too have owls from Mexico, Indonesia, and, (I think), Spain...though all have been packed away for ages. I'm a bit divided over this rating. Five stars for the illustrations and two for the story. But illustrations wins out; so 5 stars.
Loved his collection of owls. Now that I think about it, I too have owls from Mexico, Indonesia, and, (I think), Spain...though all have been packed away for ages. I'm a bit divided over this rating. Five stars for the illustrations and two for the story. But illustrations wins out; so 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews