Bear Did It!

Laurence Steven is Chairman of the English Department at Laurentian
University and author of Dissociation and Wholeness in Patrick White’s
Fiction.

Kideckel has created a story that effectively relates to young children
growing up. The book captures the essence of almost every small
child’s attempt to avoid a confrontation with parents.

This is the story of a sloppy boy named Justin. He continually spills
things, or loses them, and attempts to put the blame on the closest
person around—usually his stuffed playmate Bear—in order to avoid
acknowledging his guilt to his mother and facing the possible
consequences.

When Justin’s mother—using admirable parental psychology—goes to
buy Bear an ice cream cone, Justin tells her that Bear is not a real
person, and therefore can’t eat. Justin’s mother questions his
logic, for hadn’t Bear spilled milk, dropped cookie crumbs, lost
Justin’s shoes, and thrown mud all over him? Justin confesses to
having done these things, and his mother ends up giving him the ice
cream cone as a reward for telling her the truth.

Kideckel’s is an art of simplicity: there is enough repetition for
youthful recognition, but not enough to dominate the story; likewise,
there is humor in which the child’s knowing giggle at Justin’s
naughtiness balances with the parent’s wry grin at the universality of
the situation. Garlick’s illustrations skillfully capture the reality
and the humor of the scenes. Not elaborate or self-aggrandizing, they
are carefully crafted to complement the events of the story—and they
succeed.

Bear Did It is a fine book for four- to seven-year olds. It teaches
that honesty gets justly rewarded, yet it doesn’t preach. Parents
should definitely consider adding this book to their children’s
collection, or librarians to the children’s section.