A very bizarre wordless tale. A big green bear loves his pink stuffed bear. A wolf comes along and steals it. At last it seems like the green bear will catch the wolf, but the wolf tosses the pink bear far away instead of giving it back. In a rage, the green bear swallows the wolf. This scenario continues with a lion, eagle eggs, an elephant, and then finally an octopus hands the lovey over. So he vomits up all the mean animals he ate earlier. Did I saw bizarre? Definitely worth saying again. This is a very unusual wordless picture book with lots of potential for great discussions with young children about feeling angry or upset. The bear eats some of the animals who take his bear and I love that you can actually see them in his stomach, sort of like an x-ray. I think the fact that when someone is actually nice to the bear (the octopus who gives the bear back to him) the bear does something nice too, is very worthy of discussion. I can see why some find this book disturbing, but the more I read it, the more I liked it and think kids would really like this too. Though the plot may not be realistic, the emotions in it are very much so.
What do You think about Bear Despair (2012)?
This book sums up how I want to deal with most of my issues, you know, if I wouldn't puke all over.
—Nikki
Ick. This Brain Pickings picture book selection left much to be desired.
—davemukherjee
