by James Sage
Author: James Sage
Illustrator: Lisk Feng
Publisher: Kids Can Press (May 7, 2019)
- Pages: 40
- Ages: 4 – 7
This book is based on a little fact and a little fiction. As the story goes, President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in 1902, while there he refused to shoot a baby bear.
“I’d never be able to look my children in the eyes again!”
Later, when a political cartoonist shared this, a couple who owned a shop in New York was so impressed that they created a bear and labeled it “Teddy.” The bear became so popular that eventually, they had to build a factory to take care of the demand for their special teddy bears.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a somewhat fictional biography. However, the back of the book includes more in the way of facts for adult readers to share with little ones.
My Thoughts
What Concerned Me; The illustrations didn’t feel in proportion or realistic, neither did they seem child-friendly. To me, they didn’t accompany the text in a flattering way, but they didn’t really distract either.
What I Liked Most: I feel sure this is a story that will interest most kids. After
all, who doesn’t love the teddy bear, and why wouldn’t some facts about him be interesting?
This should be a book of interest to most elementary teachers.
James Sage is an American author who has channeled his experience with film and photography into creating picture books. He strongly believes that the successful blending of words with images is the element that gives a story its special magic, as it is often what lies beyond both that has the most 
lasting impact. A story, he insists, should raise questions that are not at first apparent. They should be the cause of thought and wonder, and linger with the reader in a happy, troublesome way. Today, from a small market town in England, he continues to explore this phenomenon, carefully varying his style to suit the subject. For James, it is a continuing adventure.
