The Bear and the Wildcat by Kazumi Yumoto

Title: The Bear and the Wildcat

Author: Kazumi Yumoto

Illustrator: Komako Sakai

Publisher: Gecko Press (2011)

ISBN: 9781877467707

 

The Bear and the Wildcat by Kazumi Yumoto is touching picture book that deals with acceptance, grieving, self-management and friendships.

 

Translated from Japanese. Devastated Bear finds his friend Bird dead. He shuts himself away from the world while he grieves. “Bear thought back over their special times together. He remembered how the tiny black beak had tickled when the bird pecked Bear’s forehead to wake him each morning… Bear remembered everything.”

 

In the Spring Bear meets Wildcat who he confides in about his friend Bird. “This little bird must have been a very special friend of yours… You must miss him a lot.” Through his new friendship with Wildcat, Bear feels ready to start the grieving process.