- Picture Books
- Ages 4–8
- Comedy
The Bear who Wasn't There and the Fabulous Forest
A whimsical fable about a bear who wakes up having lost himself and journeys through a nonsensical forest to find who he is. Playful, philosophical and gorgeously illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch.
- Best for4–8
- FormatPicture
- Length48 pp
- Read aloud~10 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Literary
Tone
- Whimsical
- Funny
- Warm
- Absurdist
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
A bear wakes up one morning to find he has misplaced something rather important: himself. Armed only with a scrap of paper listing three clues about the bear he is looking for, that he is nice, that he is happy, and that he is very handsome too, he sets off into the Fabulous Forest. Along the way he meets a cast of gloriously silly companions, among them the Convenience Cow, the Lazy Lizard and the Penultimate Penguin, each offering their own peculiar help. By the end of his search the bear discovers that the wonderful creature he has been hunting for was himself all along. Songwriter and author Oren Lavie tells this gentle, absurd little quest with warmth and wit, while Hans Christian Andersen Medal winner Wolf Erlbruch fills the forest with strange, beautiful, richly textured art. A funny and quietly reassuring picture book about knowing and liking who you are.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A shared read-aloud from about 4 to 8, with the wordplay and absurd humour landing best when performed. Independent readers of 6 to 8 can enjoy it alone, and the artwork rewards adult co-readers too.
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- Best fit · 4–8
- Read aloud · 4–8
- Independent · 6–8
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Whimsical stories
- Identity
- Beautiful art
- Imaginative children
Avoid if
- Wants realism
- Dislikes nonsense
Particularly good for children who are…
- Low self esteem
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The idea of losing yourself and having to go looking is deliciously silly, and the forest is stuffed with daft characters like the Penultimate Penguin. Children love the joke and the warm surprise of the ending, where the bear finds he is exactly what he wanted.
- Being understood finally
- Adventure and freedom
- Secret world
Why parents love it
A songwriter's ear for playfulness meets Wolf Erlbruch's extraordinary art in a picture book that is funny on the surface and quietly reassuring underneath. A lovely, offbeat read-aloud about liking who you turn out to be.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Great writing
- Conversation starter
- Indie gem discovery
About the creators
About the creators.
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