Tell Me a Story Mama, Little Berry and Mama Bear

A great book, with gorgeous illustrations, well written with interesting lessons learned not only for children but for adults too.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, although there were moments when it stopped being a children's story and became a bit heavy-handed with the life lessons. All in all, this book was worth the time and the pieces I read aloud to my children were a hit. I can imagine this book being a hit with children ages 5-8, with the more lesson based concepts being talking points with the older end of that range.

A story that is at times heavy handed with lessons but enjoyable nonetheless. The beautiful illustrations really steal the show.

This isn't really a bedtime book for your kids, unless you like discussing spirituality, and deep thought just before you go to sleep. This is more a book for discussion, and reflection. Nothing wrong with that, but I think this is being marketed wrong.

When I requested this book, I thought it was a bedtime story book, but I was wrong. That might have been the intent, but I do not feel that is where it fits. I would use this book with children when I was trying to teach them something. The ideas include the values of friendship, honesty, gratitude, respect, trust and basic interactions with its peers. One of the lessons talks about looking for the good in everyone, as well as trying to become a better person ourselves. Sometimes the stories are a little too obvious and pushy. The stories come to life through very friendly funny animal characters such as the Lonely Wolf, the Blue Heron, or the Salmon. The book would work with children from about 6 to 10 with the reader being able to get something out of it as well.

Tell Me a Story, Mama: Little Berry and Mama Bear by Lynne Carol Austin is a book without an audience. It's too mature for small children and too childish for middle schoolers, plus with sophisticated language, using words such as Rambunctious, Bodacious, Infectious, and Tantalizing, this is obviously meant to be a read aloud and not a chapter book. Despite the colorful, child friendly illustrations at the beginning of each of the ten chapters, this would also not be considered a picture book.

Mama Bear shares many of the tales which her mother told her passed on from her grandmother. If animals had folk lore explaining the various mysteries of life, such as why a raccoon has a mask or how animals helped form human beings, these would be the tales that were told. Mama recounts her stories then explains what they mean to her son, Berry Bear, although her commentary tends to be wordy and kind of preachy.

Philosophical at times, with observations such as how some animals have a hidden soft side, only acting harshly to cover up the hurts they've experienced in their lives, the language tends to be stylized, such as the reflection about butterflies dropping off the golden dust of procreation. Even though nature is a major component of this book, focusing on each animal's place in the world in order to create harmony among the creatures, there is no mention of God but numerous references to the Great Creator and Mother Nature. Overall, this is not the usual fare for young children.

I would have preferred Austin to have created a traditional picture book leaving out the sermonizing and letting the simple tales, along with more of Keith Skeen's marvelous illustrations, tell themselves. Two and a half stars.

I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This is a deep book that young readers will need adult assistance to understand. The lessons are good ones, but probably too much for them to digest unaided.

Great children's story. Highly recommended to give understanding on how everyone is involved in a child's life through Little Bear's perspective.