How to Be Human: A Bear’s Guide - Sophia Kolinas - ★★★★★

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AUTHOR: Sophia Kolinas

ILLUSTRATOR: Aparna Varma
GENRE: Children's Picture Book.
RATING: 5 Stars.

In a Nutshell: Un-bear-ably cute and relevant! Loved it!

A bear who lives in the forest is tired of doing bear things, especially as the world around him has changed, with fewer trees and fish. So he decides to try out the human way of living, which also results in dissatisfaction. Luckily, he finds a human girl who speaks bear, and she teaches him the art of being human. When this also doesn’t work, they reverse the training and the girl learns the art of being bear. This mutual friendship results in some thoughtful life lessons for the girl and for us.

Every part of this story is adorable.

Characters: The bear and the girl are depicted in an atypical way, with both of them sharing a collaborative relationship than one based on fear or selfishness. I loved their bond with each other, and also how they were each willing to listen to the other. True friendship isn’t just about getting your own way but about learning to listen to your pal too. It also shows how friendship has no boundaries.

Content: The text is written in a language that kids will understand and enjoy. It has enough elements of fun balanced with deep elements. The text doesn’t overwhelm the page while still providing enough food for thought. I appreciate how it highlighted the devastation humans have had on natural habitats, and how we must stop the rat race at times and just listen to what nature is trying to tell us. When such an important message is conveyed to kids in accessible language, it is sure to drive home.

Illustrations: What’s a children’s picture book without awesome illustrations? Every page of this book had so much to say! Some things that are just hinted at in the text are given focus in the artwork. It broke my heart to see the chopped-off trees and the plastic garbage strewn around. But these are the very factors that enhance the impact of the book. The pastel-style drawings add the right charm to a story about living in harmony with nature and its denizens.

This would work wonderfully at homes and even in classroom as it offers many opportunities for a meaningful discussion. The writing will work well for readers aged 3-8 years.

In short, I loved this book bear-y much!

5 satisfied stars.

My thanks to Owlkids Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “How to Be Human: A Bear’s Guide”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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