Ragged Bear

This is a familiar story but it is refreshingly retold, and the text, a translation, is endearing without being sentimental. Tattered old bear is rejected, then lost. Eventually he finds a new family, where his appearance is restored to former glory, and he once more warms to hugs and cuddles. The class of 6-year-olds to whom I read the book immediately wanted to read it for themselves. The text is large, well set out on each page, and the illustrations are memorable. I particularly like the fact that the humans in this story appear only as shadows or retreating back-views. It is ragged bear who holds the reader's attention.