Used-Up Bear

Of all the books I have purchased for my daughter, the entire Clay Carmichael "Bear" books are likely my favourite. This true story is an emotional tale told from the viewpoint of the stuffed bear. It is absolutely perfect in tone and delivery for 4-7 yr olds and beyond. Bear feels worn out and looks the part compared to other animals so he begins the process of avoiding anything that will make him "more worn out" out of fear of being tossed out as rubbish. His owner surprises him by making him a bear suit to wear, so she can hug him all night and not wear him out. This perfectly parallels a problem we have for my daughter and her stuffed cat. (Said cat now has a cat suit a la Bear, so she will not wear out!) Any parent facing this scenario with a well-loved object of their child's affection, will want this book and idea to preserve the critter and share the story of the security that we all crave.

This book introduced us to Bear and Clara. The adventures of Bear are wonderful. After borrowing them several times from the library I knew I had to buy my son all three of Ms. Carmichael's Bear books. My little one absolutely loves this book and Bear. All of the Bear books are soothing and perfect for bedtime reading. There is a gentle lesson in each one and prompt my son to ask very good questions about friendship, family and love. This story is one that you will enjoy and that your child will be asking to read again and again. Truly a delightful story of loving someone no matter what they look like. The illustrations are touching and bring the story to life.

I work in a library and see books of all kinds nearly everyday. Somehow I came across this wonderful little book and fell in love with it. The pictures are adorable and the story line is touching. It made me nostalgic for my younger days, and for my favorite stuffed animal. Whether you're a child or an adult, you will fall in love with Used-Up Bear.

I don't have kids, and normally my literary tastes run more toward Delillo, Pynchon, Ondaatje and Helprin, but I picked up this book for my new-to-the-world cousin and I have to say, I just loved it. The pictures are so incredibly cute and touching, the story is moving and sometimes sad but with a very happy ending -- let me tell you used-up bear, we've all been there! If you have a kid, or know a kid, or once were a kid yourself, you have to have a look at this adorable book.