CBR15Passport country
Some days you are the book and some days you are the fly that gets swatted by the book. Or in other words, this book was flat for me. Where Can We Go?: A Tale of Four Bears had such potential. I was hoping for a folktale, or something humorous, by Dai Yun (adapted by Helen Mixter). But instead, it is just about these bears who move into the human world (who seems to find them rude and more annoying than anything else) and then get bored, to just move on again. Now, sure all they want is what we all want, food and comfort, a home to live. But of course, these things can be hard to find when you are a polar bear.
A bit of environmentalism, a bit of immigration and a lot of finding your place and a home is involved. We have the color; that is lush and images that are filled with details (check out the bling the father and mother bear wear) by Igor Oleynikov and we have a story that will appeal to the right audience. I think the at least ages five and up work best for the listener and/or reader (with help). The older child (around first or second grade) could read/have it read to them but (as usual) this due mid-September 2023 book I read via an online reader copy.
And though this book was not a hit for me, I know that it will be getting attention for its diverse representation, and the illustrations will be getting nods for awards such as possibly the Caldecott or another Hans Christian Anderson win for Oleynikov.