Bear Out There

A bear and a spider: unlikely best friends. But it seems opposites attract, and whilst Bear would much prefer to stay indoors in his cosy armchair with a cup of tea, Spider loves the outdoors, the breeze, the sunshine. He has just made himself a kite, and is devastated when the wind whips it away from him. His big friend Bear says that he will help him find it, although he dislikes the outdoors, the smells, the bugs, the noises and especially the dark forest. Off they set together, Spider clinging to his big friend. When it begins to rain Bear starts grumbling more than ever, and it is only when he sees Spider’s downcast expression that he suggests they could maybe look just a little further. As the rain begins to ease, they both look up at the clouds… and spot the lost kite. A happy ending, Spider not only repairing his kite but making one for Bear too, decorating it with huge bear pawprints. A tale which shows us that friendship means being there for each other, no matter what. And that sometimes this demands stepping out of one’s comfort zone.  There are lots of extra details added to the story by the author’s own illustrations. At the opening, Spider uses buttons to weight the kite’s tail, and readers see he also wears one as a hat! The expressions of the two characters tell just what they are feeling, especially when they are both despondent— in the woods, soaking wet from the rain, having failed in their quest, and Bear wanting so much to go home. How does it end? Only the pictures tell us, but a compromised harmony is restored. Maybe some kite flying/making will follow from reading this quirky book!