Bear with me

April 15, 2023
A nearly wordless tale of the bond between stuffed toy and child. The title shares three of just four words used throughout this story, which relies on well-paced sequential art to establish a child's love of their toy bear and to chronicle how they navigate their first day of school without it. With a style akin to Bob Graham's with a dash of Helen Oxenbury, wordless frontmatter illustrations show Bear in a blue beribboned box. Next, the blue ribbon now around its neck, Bear sits on a nursery shelf. Subsequent spreads show the child growing up, with Bear their constant companion. Foreshadowing the school-day separation to come, one of the child's parents takes Bear to the washing machine, and the protagonist turns red with rage ("BEAR WITH ME!"). Soon after reuniting with a clean Bear, the child sits the toy with other stuffed animals and points at a picture on an easel emblazoned with the word SCHOOL. Though the child makes valiant efforts to keep "Bear. with. me" while preparing to go to school, their parent insists that Bear stay home. Another tantrum doesn't follow, however, as the child settles into classroom routines and keeps Bear "with" them by dressing up like a bear, painting a picture of Bear, and so on before a happy reunion at home sure to delight anyone who's ever missed a plush pal. The child and their parents are light-skinned; their school is a diverse one. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A bear-y good choice for storytime. (Picture book. 2-5)

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May 1, 2023
In this mostly wordless tale, delicately drafted ink-and-watercolor vignettes alternate with full spreads as married team Kerascoët (I Walk with Vanessa) portray the tight bond between a child and a stuffed bear given to them as an infant. In early pages, the toddler, shown with pale skin and red hair, keeps the bear company in an armchair, dances with it, and drags it lovingly through the garden, its bright blue necktie becoming the worse for wear. Now the bear needs a trip through the washing machine—the child’s tearful yowl and the hand-lettered words “Bear with me!” convey the pain of separation. Time passes. On the first day of school, the child tries stuffing the bear into their schoolbag and shirt, but a parent’s waggling finger delivers the message: the bear stays home. Kerascoët shows the protagonist finding coping strategies at school
: discovering a bear costume in the racially diverse classroom’s dress-up box, and painting a portrait of the beloved stuffy before experiencing
a joyous reunion. Young readers may need some coaching to appreciate the book’s titular pun, but the creators clearly trace a developmental journey through a beloved relationship, and their visual storytelling creates openings for conversations about separation and growth. Ages 3–7.

May 1, 2023

PreS-Gr 1-The duo known as Kerasco�t once again demonstrates their skill at visual storytelling. This time, they tackle the first day of school-and the difficulty of having to leave a favorite stuffed friend at home. The opening spreads depict a baby growing into a toddler, who grows very attached to a certain teddy bear. When the bear must be washed, a tantrum results; when the first day of school arrives, the child tries (unsuccessfully) to bring the bear along, first in their backpack and then under their shirt. Once at school, the child is at first shy and uncertain, but before long finds a friend and a number of creative ways to keep their beloved bear present after all. At the end of the school day, child and bear are lovingly reunited. The book is largely wordless, with the title repeated as an occasional refrain and changing in tone throughout. The hand-lettered text communicates as much as the utterly charming ink and watercolor illustrations. The art is warm and joyful and filled with details that young readers will delight in noticing and sharing. The protagonist and their family present as white; the child's classmates are illustrated in a variety of skin tones. VERDICT This sweet story is a lovely choice for all collections serving young readers and their families. Recommended.-Lauren Strohecker

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 1, 2023
Husband-and-wife team Kerascoet (I Walk with Vanessa, rev. 1/18) returns with this warm-hearted, affecting gem, wordless save for the rare (but effective) use of the titular phrase. A small child and their stuffed bear have been inseparable since infancy -- even a brief laundry-day separation is cause for tears and, after the ordeal, a relief-filled reunion: "Bear with me." So when it's time for the first day of school, the child makes every attempt to smuggle the bear along, stuffing it into their backpack and then up their shirt (the text reflecting their determination: "bear. with. me.") -- but each attempt is stymied and off they go, bereft. At school, though, the child is active and engaged. Close observation reveals why: the child finds a way to connect each activity with their beloved companion. They look at a book about bears; play dress-up in a bear costume; and make a painting of the bear. At the end of the school day, they run happily to their parents, painting in hand. "BEAR WITH ME!" The ink and watercolor illustrations, mostly vignettes that both progress the action and detail the child-bear friendship, excel at capturing emotion, personality, and occasionally humor. Martha V. Parravano

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2023
Husband-and-wife team Kerasco�t (I Walk with Vanessa, rev. 1/18) returns with this warm-hearted, affecting gem, wordless save for the rare (but effective) use of the titular phrase. A small child and their stuffed bear have been inseparable since infancy -- even a brief laundry-day separation is cause for tears and, after the ordeal, a relief-filled reunion: "Bear with me." So when it's time for the first day of school, the child makes every attempt to smuggle the bear along, stuffing it into their backpack and then up their shirt (the text reflecting their determination: "bear. with. me.") -- but each attempt is stymied and off they go, bereft. At school, though, the child is active and engaged. Close observation reveals why: the child finds a way to connect each activity with their beloved companion. They look at a book about bears; play dress-up in a bear costume; and make a painting of the bear. At the end of the school day, they run happily to their parents, painting in hand. "BEAR WITH ME!" The ink and watercolor illustrations, mostly vignettes that both progress the action and detail the child-bear friendship, excel at capturing emotion, personality, and occasionally humor.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)