A talented performer can certainly play to a crowd, but they may want to lead a quiet life once the show is over.

Bear is a performer. He captivates the animals of the forest with his magnificent piano recital. So much so that, when he finishes his final piece, they want MORE—and they’re very vocal about it too. Bear doesn’t want more, however. He doesn’t want the other animals around him either. But he has little success escaping their noisy, demanding chorus. It’s only when he lets out an almighty ROAR that they back off, not without hurling some unkind accusations his way, though.

Fortunately, not all the animals approach Bear with the same lack of understanding. It seems he may have a kindred spirit in the forest. All’s well that ends well. Read Bear is Never Alone and you’ll discover the gentle denouement to the tale!

Bear Is Never Alone is a picture book aimed at older preschoolers and children in early primary, i.e. ages 4-8. There is minimal text on each spread, and the language, a combination of narrative and dialogue, is easy to understand, especially when read aloud. The story provides insights into individual differences and the need to respect and accommodate them. Some people, even those that perform to adoring crowds, like Bear, need time alone. And that’s ok.

The illustrations are sublime. Jeska Verstegen uses predominantly black, white and grey with pops of bright red. The characters are appealing, and shapes are simple and elegant. Textures vary from soft, spongy backdrops and fills to delicate stenciling and outlining. I particularly liked the creative use of white space and beautiful layering. The artwork more than anything else would entice me back to this story for an encore.

Bear Is Never Alone
Written by Marc Veerkamp
Illustrated by Jeska Verstegen
Translated from Dutch by Laura Watkinson
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-8028-5603-6 (Ebook)

Read an interview with author Marc Veerkamp, here, and with illustrator Jeska Verstegen, here.

Reviews: Kirkus, The Marginalian, Publisher’s Weekly

Awards: New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award 2023

You can buy a copy of Bear Is Never Alone here or find it in a library, here.*

*Book purchases made via our affiliate link may earn GLLI a small commission at no cost to you.

Laura Taylor previously posted at Planet Picture Book, a world children’s literature blog she founded in 2017. She is a small business copywriter, NAATI-certified translator of French into English and member of AUSIT. When she is not writing, she is reading and spending time with her two young children. She occasionally tweets @plapibo