BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
This week marks the publication of My Dad is a Grizzly Bear (available here) by Swapna Haddow and Dapo Adeola, and today is our stop on the blog tour. Read on for a review of My Dad is a Grizzly Bear and a chance to win your own copy, then head over to author Swapna’s guest booklist exploring 5 favourite children’s books about bears.
Review
Book Title: My Dad is a Grizzly Bear (available here)
Author: Swadna Haddow
Illustrator: Dapo Adeola
Publisher: Macmillan
Publication Date: April 2021
Most Suitable for: EYFS & KS1
My Dad Is A Grizzly Bear is a playful and heart-warming picture book from award-winning author Swapna Haddow and illustrator Dapo Adeola. Filled with giggles and with the theme of family bonds at the heart, this is a bear-illiant choice for storytime with children aged 3-7.
The story centres around a child considering the prospect that his dad might just be a grizzly bear. The evidence is compelling: Dad has fuzzy fur, bear-sized paws and loves hanging around outside. What’s more, he naps anywhere and when he does wake up, he grumbles and grunts around looking for food (especially if there’s honey around, when he always eats the lot…). But bear-sized Dads can give bear-sized hugs, and sometimes when it’s scary in the night, that’s exactly what is needed.
“He might have the fuzziest fur that scratches and scritches and a very loud roar, but I know he’s the perfect dad for me.”
This is a sweet story about one imaginative boy’s special bond with his father. It’s full of humour, from the exaggerated facial expressions and bear-like attributes captured in Dapo Adeola’s vibrant illustrations, to the humorous asides in the text about Dad’s wild habits. The story perfectly captures the way in which young children observe familiar adults with curiosity, wonder and imagination, but also with pure adoration. This story will be a winner in the run-up to Father’s Day, and it has also earned a place in our newly updated Best Books For Year 1 booklist.
We can’t wait for the second book in the series, My Mum Is A Lioness, which will be published in February 2022.
You can order My Dad is a Grizzly Bear from Amazon or Bookshop.Org.
Guest Post
Click here to read author Swapna Haddow’s guest booklist featuring 5 favourite children’s books about bears.
——————————
*****Book Giveaway!****
Thanks to the publishers at Macmillan, we have THREE copies of My Dad is a Grizzly Bear to give away to our followers.
There are two ways to enter:
1. Twitter entry – To enter, follow @booksfortopics and RT the giveaway tweet.
2. Instagram entry – Follow @booksfortopics on Instagram & TAG in the comments a friend who may also like to win this book for their home or school library.
You can enter both ways for two entries! Giveaway closes 11.59pm 4th May 2021 (UK only)
——————————
Many thanks to the publishers for sending us a review copy and to Swapna for providing the guest post. Check out the other stops on the blog tour, too.
———————
Where next? >
Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our year group year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month.
