A Song for Bear

Gabby Dawnay, Alex Barrow

An imaginative story about a bear trying to learn to sing, complete with engaging illustrations and an empowering message.

From the duo behind If I Had a Dinosaur and A House for Mouse, Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow’s A Song for Bear is a story about recognizing and celebrating what makes us unique.

Bear wakes every morning to beautiful birdsong and longs to join in. He stretches his legs, puts on his cap and suspenders, and tries to sing with the beautiful birds crooning all around him in the forest. Unfortunately, he discovers his song is more of a holler, a howl, and rumbling growl. His wise friend, Owl, tries to encourage him by pointing out that Bear is not a bird, but Bear learns the wrong lesson and attempts to fly, thinking that being more birdlike might make him a better singer. In the end, Bear concentrates on what he does best, discovering in the process that his unique “bear song” is in fact a rap. All of the forest animals gather to watch him perform his new song, and cheer in amazement at his newfound talent. Satisfied with finding what makes him unique, Bear smiles to himself and promptly falls back to sleep.

With vibrant illustrations and lyrical rhyming, A Song for Bear tells an imaginative and inspirational story in an entertaining way.

Contributors

Gabby Dawnay

Author

Gabby Dawnay is a writer and poet. She is the author of more than twenty books for children including the bestselling If I Had a … series. She is a regular contributor to OKIDO magazine and a scriptwriter for children’s television. Follow her on Instagram @gabdaw38.

Alex Barrow

Illustrated By

Alex Barrow, a London-based illustrator, is the art director for and a regular contributor to OKIDO magazine. Alex and Gabby are also the duo behind children’s picture books If I Had a Dinosaur, A House for Mouse, and A Song for Bear.