A teddy bear loses his little girl and goes on a quest to find her in Where Are You, Bear?: A Canadian Alphabet Adventure, the latest Canadian children's story by Frieda Wishinsky. Each colorful page features a different letter of the alphabet and a simple word or phrase to correspond with each letter.
Unlike many alphabet books, this one also features a touching story that progresses as each new letter is revealed. The result is a multifaceted, educational book that both children and parents will want to read again and again.
About Where Are You, Bear?
Four-year-old Sophie is looking forward visiting her grandmother in British Columbia. She will leave her home in Newfoundland and travel with her father across 13 Canadian provinces and territories. But as Sophie prepares to leave, she realizes she can’t find her beloved buddy Bear. She is forced to leave without him, but Bear refuses to be left behind. He follows her through her alphabetical adventure from the Cape Spear Lighthouse in Newfoundland to the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia.
Excerpts from Where Are You, Bear?
Each letter features a unique aspect of Canada. Some examples include:
- B for Beluga Whale
- C for Chowder
- I for Île de Montréal
- M for Mounties
Praise for Where Are You, Bear?
Parents looking for a fun, colorful read-aloud to share with young children will enjoy this touching story. The illustrations by Sean L. Moore are bright, silly and full of action. The book provides an excellent opportunity for kids to learn about Canadian geography while also learning the alphabet.
An airplane on each spread shows the province or territory Sophie and Bear visit. The book’s endpapers feature maps and explanations about each destination. While most alphabet books are abandoned once children learn their letters, this book provides additional learning opportunities as kids grow.
About Frieda Wishinsky
Wishinsky has written a number of children’s books including What’s the Matter with Albert?; Please, Louise; and the Canandian Flyer Adventures series. Her book Oonga Boonga was voted “Pick of the List” by American Booksellers in 1990, and Please, Louise was nominated for the 2008 TD Literature Award and won the Marilyn Baillie Picture book award. Wishinsky grew up in New York, and she currently lives in Toronto.
Where Are You, Bear? offers a unique twist to the classic alphabet book. Even families who have never visited Canada will learn and enjoy this exciting adventure with Sophie and Bear.
Where Are You, Bear?: A Canadian Alphabet Adventure (Owlkids Books, 2010, ISBN: 978-1-897349-91-5, 32 pages)
Kari Lomanno - Kari Lomanno is a high school English teacher and mother of two children ages 9 and 7. She lives in Chesapeake, Virginia with her husband ...
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