A Bear for Bimi

by Jane Breskin Zalben, Yevgenia Nayberg (Illustrator)

Overview

When Bimi’s refugee family immigrates to America and moves into Evie’s neighborhood, not everybody is welcoming. But with the help of Evie’s teddy bear, Bimi’s family becomes part of the neighborhood and Evie makes a new friend.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728433004
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jane Breskin Zalben, an author, artist and abstract painter, was born in New York City, went to the High School of Music & Art in Harlem, graduated Queens College, and went on to study printmaking at the Pratt Graphics Center in Manhattan. She has created more than 50 award-winning books for children. Her work has been exhibited in libraries, galleries, and museums. Her studio is on Long Island, New York.
Yevgenia Nayberg is an illustrator, painter, and set and costume designer. She received a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for her illustrations for Drop by Drop. She lives in New York.

Editorial Reviews

"A lovely story about friendship, welcoming the other, and winning people’s hearts with kindness." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-06-29
A family from another country moves into Evie’s neighborhood. Everyone warmly welcomes them except for one person who has a different perspective.

Evie, whose family is White and Jewish, is very curious about the Saids. The parents and child have dark brown skin and are Muslim. Evie’s parents confirm that the newcomers, refugees or immigrants, are similar to her own Jewish grandparents. Bimi, the kid in the Said family, is timid the first time he meets Evie. However, they quickly become friends. On moving day, Evie’s father, who wears a kippah, helps with carrying boxes, then everyone in the neighborhood contributes items to the new home. The neighbors, diverse in skin color, dress, age, and religion, gather around the Saids’ table for a festive meal that weekend. But Mrs. Monroe, a White woman, is missing. Both sets of parents, independently, try to explain to Evie and Bimi what may be behind the neighbor’s strange looks and behavior toward the Saids. Throughout the story, the Saids, albeit mostly on the receiving end of help, actively participate in shaping their world, including eventually winning over Mrs. Monroe with kindness and humor. Nayberg’s jewel-toned paintings play with perspective and angle, compositions and figuring emphasizing emotion rather than strict realism. An author’s note and instructions for making a stuffed bear conclude the book.

A lovely story about friendship, welcoming the other, and winning people’s hearts with kindness. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews