Review - Where Is Home, Daddy Bear?

Where Is Home, Daddy Bear?
by Nicola O'Byrne
Date: 2018
Publisher: Flyaway Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Evie Bear and Dad are moving. But as they leave their old home behind and set off on their long drive toward the new, Evie Bear is full of questions. "What if I don't like it there?" she worries. "How will I make new friends?" But her dad reassures her with wise and comforting words, and by the end of their journey, Evie Bear comes to realize that she can feel at home anywhere, as long as Dad is with her.

Featuring endearing bears and lustrous mixed media art, Where Is Home, Daddy Bear? is a simple yet thoughtful tale that considers the question of the true meaning of home.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is adorable! I don't know why it hasn't gotten more attention.

Evie Bear and her dad are moving. (It looks like there used to be a Mama Bear, but now it's just the two of them.) As they pack up their lives and leave their old home behind, Evie Bear worries. She doesn't know if she'll make friends or if their new place will feel like home. Dad gently reassures her with logical, common-sense advice. He's not afraid to admit his own feelings, which helps him and his daughter relate.

The pictures here are so cute! Stunning, colourful spreads show a world much like our own, but populated by friendly, anthropomorphized animals. The diner where Evie Bear and Dad stop for blueberry pancakes is especially fun to look at.

Overall, this is a really strong book about a topic that many kids will have to face at some point. It shows that, although change can be scary, it can also lead to good things. And home is wherever you choose for it to be, with the people who love you the most.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flyaway Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.5 out of 5