Review - Don't Let Go!

Don't Let Go!
by Élisabeth Eudes-Pascal
Date: 2020
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

It’s a frosty day at the beach, and a polar bear family is at play among the ice floes. The cubs splash around, all except the youngest, who’s nervously hanging onto his dad in the water. He’s just not ready to swim on his own. Despite encouragement from Dad, the cub is insistent: “Don’t let go!”

Maybe a flotation device would help? One by one, the little bear adds a lifesaver, a flutter board, a pool noodle, and a rubber ball to his body, all while clutching his dad. Eventually, the cub is so loaded down with large and colorful toys that his dad is able to sneak away unnoticed. But will he still be afraid to float on his own?

This simple, funny story is told in speech bubbles and illustrations. Full of color, laughter, and polar bears in vibrant swimsuits, this is a playful and lighthearted exploration of the challenges of independence.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a picture book done in graphic novel format featuring a little bear who won't let go of his father.

While I appreciate that this might be true to life and give parents a chuckle, I wasn't really impressed by the premise. The little bear is annoying, and the repetition just reinforces his obnoxiousness. I kind of wanted the father to just toss the kid into the water by the halfway point. It's not that he can't swim; he's just super clingy (and, as is shown on the last pages, he's simply being a manipulative brat).

The pictures are kind of unintentionally hilarious. The polar bears look pretty much like humans with bear heads, leading to an uncanny quality that put me in mind of the title character in Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present. (If those illustrations freak you out, you might have issues with Don't Let Go!).

For readers who like repetition and quirky pictures of overly anthropomorphized bears, this might be a winner. There's really nothing wrong with it; I just personally didn't like it all that much.

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

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Writing & Editing: 2/5
Illustration: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2 out of 5