My Friend Bear

A great book about making friends.

Author: Jez Alborough Illustrator: Jez Alborough Pages: 32 Publisher: Candlewick Press Published Date: 01/01/1998 Genre: Fiction - Friendship PB Price: $5.99 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Read Aloud: 2+ Read Alone: 6+

Common Sense Note

A familiar hero and his teddy bear will draw children into this humorous tale about making new friends. The expressive illustrations add to the fun.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Jennifer Gennari

Eddie is back with his teddy bear, and this time he's feeling lonely and wishing Freddie could talk. His wish comes true and he makes a new friend in this silly sequel to Where's My Teddy?.

This time Eddie is only a little scared of the giant bear, and, after the bear starts to cry, he gets up his courage to talk to him. The resulting confusion over who is talking--Eddie or the giant teddy--gives the two characters a chance to laugh and become friends. It's a nice (but not too exciting) story told in perfect verse.

Alborough has chosen to make the bear and the woods less scary in this story. The bear looks more cartoonlike; his snout is shorter and his fur is lighter. Eddie has changed too. He has more hair and he's filled out. The overall look is more polished, but it lacks the energy and edge of the first book--and children expect the characters to remain consistent.

Nevertheless, this is a great book about making friends, and about the joy of laughter. Read Where's My Teddy? to see the magic of the original, and also check out It's the Bear!. Another great story about teddy bears is Corduroy, by Don Freeman.

Plot Summary:

Eddie, out walking with his teddy bear, wishes it could talk, because he feels lonely. Then he spots a real bear's giant teddy bear. Eddie hides, knowing the bear will appear. When the bear--who is also lonely--appears, crying, Eddie, who is hidden, tells him not to cry. Overjoyed, the bear thinks his teddy is talking.

When the bear realizes it's Eddie, he is angry, but Eddie starts to giggle, and soon they make a game of talking teddy bears. The boy and the bear become friends, and they play silly games until it's time to go home.

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