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laurehittle's review against another edition
5.0
This book is very Rachelian, i believe.
Tell me, are you yourself? Are you a nice bear? A happy bear? And very handsome? You might need a taxi turtle. i think there is one behind that tree.
Tell me, are you yourself? Are you a nice bear? A happy bear? And very handsome? You might need a taxi turtle. i think there is one behind that tree.
latad_books's review against another edition
3.0
A little odd, but a gentle, quiet story. A bear comes into being from an itch, then moves through a forest, encountering other animals, such as a sofa cow, a penguin, and a taxi turtle. A few of the illustrations are quite beautiful.
rebecca_oneil's review against another edition
4.0
Can a picture book be absurdist? In this translated book for older readers, Bear's existential questions and logic-bending friends will appeal to fans of Lewis Carroll, Lemony Snicket, and Winnie the Pooh.
"Are we lost?"
"Yes we are," the Turtle nodded. "It's part of the way Forward."
"Are we lost?"
"Yes we are," the Turtle nodded. "It's part of the way Forward."
lumaeus's review against another edition
5.0
A whimsical book that grapples with identity and being, place and quality, in a work more universally pleasing and more philosophically sound than any phenomenologist has yet put forth. Human understanding can rest complete now that it is fulfilled by a book that finds fulfillment in the completeness of the self.
F'real, it's a good'n.
F'real, it's a good'n.
gelle3's review against another edition
5.0
Has easily became one of my favourite books. Such a beautiful story and wonderful characters. Definitely, I am going to read it again. At least once in while.
_die_lit_'s review against another edition
4.5
better to smell the flowers than to count them
flowers are more beautiful than they are thirty-eight
flowers are more beautiful than they are thirty-eight
ragnatela's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This morning I listened to a podcast recommending this book and I got so curious that I had to read it at once.
I should really read more books intended for children, if well chosen they can be absolutely stunning in their simplicity.
I should really read more books intended for children, if well chosen they can be absolutely stunning in their simplicity.
“Slowly,” said the Turtle, “is the only way to get anywhere in this forest.”
After some time had passed the Bear asked, “Are we lost?”
“Yes we are,” the Turtle nodded. “It’s part of the way Forward.”
“I see,” said the Bear.
(May 2024)
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
This isn’t my usual type of picture book - but I enjoyed reading this one.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
5.0
'Once upon a Time there was an Itch,' so the story begins. And from that Itch comes a bear and from that bear a series of difficult, transcendental questions: Are you me? Am I nice? What happens to the world when I am not looking? In search for the answers of these questions, much like [b:The Phantom Tollbooth|378|The Phantom Tollbooth|Norton Juster|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558858485l/378._SX50_.jpg|1782584] and [b:Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass|24213|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass|Lewis Carroll|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327872220l/24213._SY75_.jpg|2375385], Bear, in his trip through the fabulous forest, encounters a series of characters who offer their wisdom in a variety of guises (with Turtle Taxi being my favourite).
Unlike Alice and Milo though, Bear's character is a little closer to that of A.A. Milne's creation [b:Winnie-the-Pooh|99107|Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh, #1)|A.A. Milne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1298440130l/99107._SY75_.jpg|1225592]; the world is big to him and he's rather innocent and powerless within it. His kind nature and childish inquisitiveness carry him through though.
Whilst on the wordy side of the picture book and possibly closer to an illustrated text, Lavie's first translated book remains a gem. There are no clear answers here only questions and invitations here: ideas that will prick the young reader's mind and roll around in there for a long time.
Meanwhile, in the hands of the enviably talented Erlbruch, we have a large rather puzzled looking bear wandering through thick, beautifully printed forests. I loved the ambiguousness of this book but can imagine that with no clarity here it will aggravate some adult readers.
Unlike Alice and Milo though, Bear's character is a little closer to that of A.A. Milne's creation [b:Winnie-the-Pooh|99107|Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie-the-Pooh, #1)|A.A. Milne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1298440130l/99107._SY75_.jpg|1225592]; the world is big to him and he's rather innocent and powerless within it. His kind nature and childish inquisitiveness carry him through though.
Whilst on the wordy side of the picture book and possibly closer to an illustrated text, Lavie's first translated book remains a gem. There are no clear answers here only questions and invitations here: ideas that will prick the young reader's mind and roll around in there for a long time.
Meanwhile, in the hands of the enviably talented Erlbruch, we have a large rather puzzled looking bear wandering through thick, beautifully printed forests. I loved the ambiguousness of this book but can imagine that with no clarity here it will aggravate some adult readers.