“Teddy Bear of The Year is the perfect children’s story and it warmed all our hearts (including our teddy bears).” – Momma Braga
Synopsis
The teddy bears’ picnic gets a modern twist in this warm and fuzzy picture book about a young teddy bear who learns that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Ollie is a regular bear with a regular job. He listens to his girl’s stories about her days, he snuggles her to sleep and he is there waiting when she gets home from school. Just your typical teddy bear stuff. So when he is whisked away to the annual teddy bears’ picnic, he feels insignificant compared to the other bears who do daring and daunting things: sleepovers, hospital stays–even a night in the lost and found!
After small talk with a regional stuffing manager, a department of cuddling official and a stitchery inspector; a stop at the snack table; and even some team building activities, it’s time for the teddy bear service awards . . . and Ollie feels even more small and unimportant. But he soon learns that it’s not just the big things that matter, it’s the little things too.
#MelAndNikkiReview
Teddy Bear of The Year is truly a “beary” great children’s book. You can’t help but fall in love with this story and Ollie who realizes an important lesson – no act of kindness is too small!
After reading this story, I turned to Nikki and asked, “Do you have a favorite teddy?” Nikki replied with excitement and said, “I have many and they all mean so much to me.” As she went through her teddy bears, I noticed they all had a special story and they truly have been there to comfort her when she needed them most.
Like Bubblegum who is her pink teddy that she made with her grandma as an award for being so brave at the hospital when she got really sick a couple of years ago. Then there is Elsa the bear who helps comfort her during any bad dreams that she has. There is also Mikey the teddy bear that Nikki created for her daddy when he stayed at the hospital last year after hernia surgery. Each teddy bear had its own story and they are all loved equally.
This story allowed us to look at our own teddy bears and reflect on the stories each could tell in their own teddy bear picnic. We are sure they could all win Teddy Bear of The Year as they are so beary special.
Therefore, for this #MelAndNikkiReview, we give it 10 bears out of 5! We loved the illustrations as it truly brought the story to life. This book was full of heart, kindness and an appreciation for our teddies who do so much for us all.
If you would like to purchase your own copy, click here. Remeber to cuddle with your teddy bears as you read this story as they will love it too! 😉
About the Author
Vikki VanSickle is the author of the acclaimed Clarissa books, including Words that Start with B, Love Is a Four-Letter Wordand Days that End in Y. Vikki’s most recent middle grade novel, Summer Days, Starry Nights, has been called “summer reading at its best” and was a finalist for the Red Maple Award. After obtaining an MA in Children’s Literature from UBC, Vikki’s career began in bookselling at The Flying Dragon Bookshop, which earned her the 2011 CBA Young Bookseller of the Year award. Currently Vikki balances writing with her duties as the Marketing and Publicity Manager for Young Readers at Penguin Canada. Vikki lives with a cat named Barb who would prefer not to have to share the house with a sasquatch.
Until next time…Happy Parenting!
-Momma Braga
*This book was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.
