The Bear and the Wildcat
Kazumi Yumoto author Komako Sakai illustrator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Gecko Press
Published:1st Jun '11
Should be back in stock very soon

"There’s no book like this that I know of. It explains grief in a way that speaks to any age, with its quiet understanding of what it is like to lose someone you love. It’s a beautiful book." Julia Marshall, Publisher
A picture book with delicate charcoal illustrations tracks the path of grief, ending with the uplifting new beginning of a budding friendship based on understanding.An almost single-color picture book tracks the path of grief, ending with the uplifting new beginning of a budding friendship based on understanding. When the little bird dies, his friend the bear is inconsolable. Full of grief, he locks himself in his house and ventures out again only when the smell of young spring grass blows through his window. He always carries a small box, which he opens for no one. He meets a wildcat who understands his need to carry the box. As the cat plays on her violin, the bear remembers all the beauty he experienced with the little bird. Now he can bury his friend, keeping him alive in his memories and feelings. The Bear and the Wildcat shows a way through paralyzing grief and simultaneously tells the story of a hopeful new friendship.
"Elegant, understated spreads over scumbled black backdrops by Sakai divide the story, the first half dark with Bear's misery, the second half dawning with light. Hirano's fine translation renders Bear's transition in simple, natural-sounding English, and Yumoto's sensitive characterization makes the story a touchstone for talking about loss."—starred, Publishers Weekly
"Quietly contemplative, mingling hope and healing, this is a book that will offer comfort to many."—starred, Kirkus Reviews
"This quiet, gently told story about death and friendship is well matched with soothing illustrations. . . . This Japanese import . . . will be a welcome addition to books about grieving."—The Horn Book Magazine
"[A] forward-looking book for children who have loved and lost."—Wall Street Journal
"A deeply somber but ultimately uplifting read."—Booklist
- Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year 2024
- USBBY Outstanding International Books List
- Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2023
ISBN: 9781877467707
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown