What’s inside...
Pairs of pictures and a simple word enable young children to make up stories about the encounters of a bear cub with everyday objects, including cookies, blocks, water, a balloon, and a bed. Dennis Lee, known as a wizard of words and the author of classics like Alligator Pie, created Jelly Belly in 1983. This book combines playful and hilarious poetry with captivating illustrations by Juan Wijngaard, making it an ideal read for children ages one to five, as well as for family members of all ages.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-6
Length
64 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Bear feels when he's trying to find his way home?
How do you think the other animals in the forest help Bear?
What would you do if you were Bear and got lost?
Why do you think it's important for Bear to find his way back?
How did you feel when Bear finally found his way home?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to convey Bear’s emotions and bring the story to life.
Pause after key events to ask your child how they think Bear is feeling, enhancing their empathy skills.
Encourage your child to draw parallels between Bear’s journey and any challenges they've faced, fostering personal connection with the story.
Discuss the role of the forest animals to emphasize themes of community and helping others.
Celebrate Bear’s success at the end to reinforce the value of perseverance and bravery.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: In 'BEAR', the story illustrates the character Bear learning to understand and sympathize with other animals' feelings and situations.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by learning to recognize and respect the feelings of their peers and family members, promoting a compassionate environment.
Example Lesson: Courage and Facing Fears
Explanation: Throughout the book, Bear encounters various challenges that require courage to overcome, demonstrating bravery in difficult situations.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the importance of confronting fears, whether it's trying new activities or standing up for themselves.
Example Lesson: Importance of Friendship
Explanation: Bear learns the value of making friends and how working together can solve problems that seem insurmountable.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of building friendships and how cooperation can lead to achieving common goals.
Example Lesson: Persistence Pays Off
Explanation: The storyline shows Bear persistently working towards goals despite setbacks, emphasizing the rewards of persistence.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to keep trying and not give up when faced with their own challenges, teaching resilience.
Example Lesson: Respect for Nature
Explanation: Bear shows a deep appreciation for his surroundings and all living things, teaching respect for the natural world.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of caring for their environment and the creatures that inhabit it, fostering a sense of responsibility towards nature.