Review - How to Catch a Bear Who Loves to Read

How to Catch a Bear Who Loves to Read
by Andrew Katz & Juliana Léveillé-Trudel
illustrated by Joseph Sherman
Date: 2018
Publisher: CrackBoom! Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A tale of two book lovers and one unlikely friendship

Julia has many friends in the forest by her house. She climbs trees with Scotty the squirrel, plays hide-and-seek with Abigail the groundhog, and has farting contests with Frieda the skunk. Julia dreams of meeting a bear, a bear she could play with and hug. But no bear has ever shown its snout.

One day, inspired by a book she’s reading, Julia brings honey (the perfect bear snack) into the woods. The next day, she tries bringing blueberries. But to her great surprise, it’s not just sweet smells that can attract a bear!

So begins a thrilling quest that will bring Julia to new corners of the forest—and of her heart. Introducing a spunky young heroine with a nose for books, How to Catch a Bear Who Loves to Read invites children to share their love of reading—and of bearnormous hugs—with Julia.

(see this book on Goodreads)

No. No, no, no, no, no. Who thought this was a good idea? Honestly... This came out of a Canadian publisher, no less. I can't believe it.

Look, I'm fine with books about anthropomorphized bears. What I'm not okay with are books that show a realistic little girl living in a house in the woods trying to lure a bear with "bear snacks" (not little girls, in case you were wondering) so she can ride it like a raft down the river and give it hugs. Whoever thought this book was a good idea needs to be sat down and forced to watch Backcountry. Or told the story of Valérie Théorêt and her 10-month-old baby who were recently killed by a grizzly bear. Bears are not cute and cuddly creatures to be played with like pets. The line between fantasy and reality is way too blurred here (especially when the girl is trying to lure the bear with honey and blueberries).

Sorry, but I can't recommend this one at all. Even the farting skunk isn't enough to save this book.

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

Premise: 0/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 0/5

Overall: 1 out of 5