
Part of the New York Review Books Children's Collection series
A bear wakes to find his forest replaced by a factory. Can he prove his true identity?
A bear wakes from hibernation to find his forest replaced by a bustling factory. Mistaken for a man in a fur coat, he must convince skeptical managers of his true identity. As he navigates the corporate hierarchy, the bear's journey becomes a whimsical tale of self-assertion and resilience. Will he reclaim his place in the world, or remain trapped in a human's misunderstanding? Discover the bear's charming struggle against disbelief in this modern fairy tale.
“Once upon a time, in fact it was Tuesday,” the Bear went into the woods to settle in for his long winter nap. But when he awoke what had happened? The trees were gone, the grass was gone, the flowers were gone, and in their place were buildings, cars, a fenced-off courtyard. The Bear had no idea that he was in the middle of a factory. “Get back to work!” a man yelled out of the blue. “I don’t work here,” said the Bear, “I’m a bear.” The man laughed and laughed. “Fine excuse for a man to keep from doing any work–saying he’s a bear.” And so it began and so it went, with the Bear protesting his bearness all the way from the Third Vice President to the First, and no one willing to believe that he wasn’t just a silly man in a fur coat who needed a shave. How the bear endured and how he finally prevailed are the subject of this delightful modern fairy tale–beautifully illustrated with the author’s inventive line drawings–about sticking up for yourself, no matter how many Foremen, General Managers, Vice Presidents, or even Company Presidents stand in your way.
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