Bears don't cry by Emma Chichester Clark

The title of this book is sure to lead to an interesting discussion with your group of young readers. Should bears be allowed to cry? What might make a bear cry? What makes you cry? Is it okay to cry sometimes? Who might help you if you are crying? What do you thing the little girl might be saying to the bear? Flip over to the back cover. What is happening here?

This story is a sequel to an earlier book - Bears don't read.

Publisher blurb for Bears don't cry: George is no ordinary bear. He lives with a little girl called Clementine and her mother, who have taught him to read! One day, when George finishes his book early and knows it will be a long time before Clementine and her mother return home, he decides to go the library by himself. At first it’s exciting to stroll along the sunny street. But poor George’s trip soon ends in disaster and, to make things worse, his library book is ruined. Can anyone help George to feel better when his feelings are hurt?

In the first book George found a book then he found Clementine and her mother and he learned how to read. In this second instalment George loves living with Clementine's family and when they go out each day he is able to sit in the garden and read but on the day of this story he finishes his library book and so he decides to head into town to the library. Unfortunately none of the townspeople are used to seeing huge bears in the street and so everyone runs away in fear. George has no idea what is happening but then he slips on some fruit in the market and lands in the village fountain. The people all laugh at him but Clementine has something important to say about this:

"This is my dear friend, George ... He may be big but you have hurt his feelings."

As with all good books the final picnic scene back at Clementine's house with the librarian is sure to make you smile. 

Warning - if your library book falls into a fountain, as happened to George,  it really cannot be saved - I love that the librarian in this book offered to dry out the book but I think she was just being kind. 

Clever type design makes for easy reading, while lots of pictorial action adds drama to this tale that gently reminds readers not to judge by outward appearances. ... A sweet tale of a beloved bear defeating the tyranny of others’ expectations. Kirkus

Click on the name Emma Chichester Clark in my post labels to see more books by this wonderful UK author/illustrator. This story reminded me of this book:

Veronica

Why do you cry? by Kate Klise illustrated by M Sarah Klise

You can cry for any reason. Or for no reason at all.

Today I have watched a few YouTube videos (COVID-19 stay at home) and as usual many of the ones involving music, young children and acts of kindness leave me in floods of tears. I am a crier. I cry over television commercials, I cry when kids sing in school assemblies, and of course I cry in movies.  I was very intrigued by the title of this book - why do you cry?

Little Rabbit declares, aged five, that he is "done with crying."  He has lots of friends who he plans to invite to his birthday party but he decides the friends can only attend if they meet his criteria:

"I'm inviting everyone who's big like me, and doesn't cry anymore."

Little Rabbit heads off to interview his friends and he makes some surprising discoveries.

Squirrel - cries when he is excluded from a game
Cat - cries when she is alone and fearful
Horse - cries for lots of reasons - pain from a bee sting, seeing a snake or if a new haircut looks terrible

It seems no one can come to the birthday party. Even mother cannot attend because she sometimes cries too. "Sometimes I cry when I watch a sad movie ... or when I have a bad toothache and sometimes I cry when I look at you."

Little Rabbit has discovered so much about crying. He is persuaded to change his mind and so he decides everyone is allowed to attend is birthday party and it is a big success.  Only one person cries?

This is a fairly old book (2006) but I think it is still in print.  I would pair this book with Sloppy Kisses.

There are several books about Little Rabbit by Kate Klise: