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Why Are There So Many Books About Bears?

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BfK No. 237 - July 2019
BfK 237 July 2019

This issue’s cover illustration is from Grumpycorn by Sarah McIntyre, designed by Strawberrie Donnelly. Thanks to Scholastic UK for their help with this July cover.
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Why Are There So Many Books About Bears?

Kristina Stephenson
(Hodder Children's Books)
32pp, PICTURE BOOK, 978-1444945997, RRP £6.99, Paperback
5-8 Infant/Junior
Buy "Why Are there So Many Books About Bears?" on Amazon

This characterful hardback book raises a very good question-why ARE there so many books about bears? It’s a funny premise and as a title it is definitely one which, although the pictures appeal from a young age, the language and ideas
within the book reach right up into 9+. The question raised is about fiction and why there are so many books about these fluffy creatures so if you have had some more reading experience you will probably find the book more amusing.

It would also be handy to have a certain amount of knowledge about famous intellectual figures to appreciate William Snakespeare and Albert Swinestein etc.

The illustrations are great with a mixture of different fonts to make the whole text really interactive and fun. Different creatures have gathered together to answer the question about bears and each has a turn to explain their theory. When they do there is a good opportunity for some black and white drawings too-again adding to the dynamics of the read. The theories range from bear being a good rhyming word to bears are very similar to humans and it’s humans who write books and they put them there!

All the way through the book there is a continuing theme with a ‘knockety knock’ - someone is trying to offer the debaters tea and cake but they keep refusing. This is an enjoyable repeat throughout until you find out who is behind the door with a special pull out page.

The book would start a lovely debate and indeed at the end there is a new question to answer maybe a sequel OR children could write their own answer which would be a fantastic class activity.

Reviewer: 
Sarah Gallagher
3
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