Book Details:
What Bear Said about Life, Love, and Other Stuff
by Jack Wiens
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 98 pages
Genre: Juvenile fiction/picture book/values & virtues
Publisher: Torchflame Books
Release date: October 15, 2024
Content Rating: G. Specifically for children.
Book Description:
The boy has a lot of questions—hard ones about love, honesty, grief and loss, prejudice, forgiveness, why we are here, and more.
Bear’s wise answers are always offered with compassion and enthusiasm. The friendship between these two is deep, tender, and sometimes fun. Bear’s clear, common-sense philosophy of life is a welcome contrast to the complex world our children face today.
On the beautifully illustrated pages, you will also meet Jay, Raccoon, Badger, Elder Moose, and others who add to the fun and adventure.
Walk with Boy and Bear for a while in the woods and see what you might learn about life, love and other stuff.
This uplifting book will surely become a treasured collection of simple wisdom, inspiring rich, meaningful conversations between adults and children alike.
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MY REVIEW
Bear was such a gentle friend to Boy and shared with him answers to some hard questions. Some of Boy’s worries might not come to mind as adults. What seems minor to us could be huge to a child. Me, I found much of Bear’s advice helpful even as a grownup. My son asked questions I struggled to answer and I would have loved to have Bear as my sounding board.
I enjoyed this book from cover to back flap. It was filled with wisdom and delightful illustrations. I’d recommend you keep it within reach when you and child feel like reading together.
5 STARS
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GUEST POST
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Excerpt from the book: Meaning and Purpose
“Bear, what is this all about? Why are we here? What am I supposed to do? I really just want to play a lot and have fun!
What Bear Said
Well, yes, we ARE here to play. Look at our beautiful playground! AND, we have to eat, and stay warm (pick berries and find a den), and that takes some work. The tricky part is keeping it all balanced.
What is this really all about? It is The Great Mystery. Many ideas have been shared, but no one really knows for sure. Perhaps we are close to the answer when we are feeling the happiest, when we have found our “place in the woods,” have loved ones who love and appreciate us, and when we have found our unique gifts—those things we are good at and have passion for—and are offering them to the world.”
My answer to the question, “What is this life all about?” has gotten simpler over the years. I used to have a lot of dogma to share from my early days of religious and theological study. Then I moved into much more psychological explanation for things and then more spiritual, generic language. As Bear’s answer reflects, I have drawn from all those earlier orientations and distilled it down. As corny as it sounds, I really do believe love is the answer to most questions. I am a relational person. How I am with people in my life is the most important thing. Am I kind, loving, honest? Can people count on me? Do they know I care? Do I like myself? I know when I am using my abilities, like illustrating or communicating, or even playing tennis, I am happier and feel fulfilled. When I invite a friend to meet me for breakfast or a cup of coffee, I feel richer, happier. When I stop what I’m doing because a blue jay is pecking on my kitchen window and go out and feed him or her some peanuts, I feel happier. Anytime I enter the natural world and make conscious contact with it, I feel calmer, peaceful and even more hopeful.
Is there some lofty mission I have in this world? I used to think I did. I literally felt I should somehow save the world. These days I believe if a give a friend a ride to their doctor’s appointment or tell someone I appreciate their good work, I have, in some degree, fulfilled my mission for today as a human being.
I think it is important these days to help children have very real, direct experiences of honest, loving, in-depth communication with others—their peers or adults—that happens in person, not on a screen. They need to be really seen and heard by a real person they see and hear. We all need that! This is the main way they will learn what their strengths and gifts are which they can offer the world.
Finally, I think it is good for kids to hear that adults don’t have it “all figured out.” When Bear says, “It is the Great Mystery,” I hope that can light a little fire of curiosity in a young reader. It is important to continue at all ages to find “wonder” in living, to be amazed at the unknowns and unexplainable parts of our world and Universe. It’s really okay to seek answers and to recognize nobody has them all figured out.
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Meet Author Jack Wiens:
Jack Wiens has illustrated over 40 children’s books and designed many book covers, a family magazine, curriculum materials and greeting cards. He has also exhibited his fine art in galleries and art shows in Colorado, Missouri and Oregon.
Jack earned a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and worked as a counselor for 34 years in private practice as well as in a hospital inpatient addictions program and mental health centers. He led many workshops on communication, relationships and self-care during his career as psychotherapist.
He lives in Ashland, Oregon, where he enjoys the natural beauty of nearby mountains, lakes and rivers, the creative energy of the community and good friendships. Besides hiking, biking and tennis, a favorite activity is exploring the Oregon coast and whale watching in Depoe Bay.
connect with the author: website
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