The overall story is very confusing, so I wouldn’t add it to your collection. That said, the illustrations are gorgeous. I received this copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a sweet story. A bear feels invisible. Like no one sees him. His sadness and loneliness are visible in his invisibility. Then a new person comes and they get to know each other. It’s a beautiful story.

Sometimes someone comes into your life and you know things will never be the same. That’s what happens in The Invisible Bear.

The bear lives alone, in a forgotten place that is quiet and grey. One day, everything changes when Madame Odette moves next door. She is nothing like the bear. She loves colors, dragonflies, and flowers. Though very different, the neighbors learn that sometimes we can offer what others need, even if we feel like an invisible bear.

This is a sweet children’s story with beautiful illustrations. Even in the early pages where we are introduced to the bear’s colorless world, the muted artwork offers a glimpse into the day-to-day life with great care. From the bear feeding his fish to him preparing a meal for one, the pictures compliment the text by adding detail and depth.

This story will resonate with children and adults alike who have had someone come into their lives, even temporarily, that made them realize they are special. Most will be able to relate to the bear and Madame Odette equally, and the hopeful message will leave readers feeling optimistic.

The Invisible Bear has lovely artwork that will appeal to some kids, and a story is so brief that readers may take away different messages and themes from it. At face value, it is about two opposite personalities who are able to appreciate one another. Some may see deeper themes of grief, loss, depression, or being forever changed by a relationship. The illustrations are pretty, and it is the kind of book you can read several times in order to take in everything,

A little bit sad, but hopeful. The illustrations are simply beautiful, and for me, the produced a sense of calm.

The illustrations are lovely, and really help to show what's happening in the story. We have a bear who feels invisible- no one visits him, no one talks to him, he goes through his days in a colorless world with a rain cloud over his head, reading, cooking, being quiet. Then one day, a neighbor arrives- Madame Odette, who is colorful and noisy, who loves her garden and listening to music. Bear isn't sure he he likes this disruption of his routine, but he decides to help his neighbor when he overhears Madame Odette crying because her flowers are wilting due to lack of water, and Bear brings his rain cloud over. The two become friends, and each learns from the other- Bear begins to appreciate brightness and color, and Madame Odette learns to enjoy peace and quiet. One day, Madame Odette is gone; the text says she flew away with her dragonflies, presumably a metaphor for dying. Bear finds a potted flower on his doorstep, and realizes his life has been changed by his friend, and he'll never be the same. He is no longer invisible, he has been seen by someone.
The story has a dreamy quality to it, and is sweet, but I'm not sure the intended audience will understand all the imagery. I suppose that's not really necessary, it's still a sweet story, just noting it.

#TheInvisibleBear #NetGalley

A strong sense of European sensibility here. The message, the desire to be seen and how it can lead us to misbehavior, is fairly universal. Something about the approach, though, feels foreign.

This is a cute kids book. I loved the pictures, they were so cute. This book would help children learn that all people are different. And that by trying new things, they may find that they like it.

The illustrations are beautiful and the story is heartfelt. A wonderful read-aloud that talks about the importance of family and being seen.

The illustrations are extremely well done. The colors are very light which made it hard to see all that was going on. The story lacks any sort of plot that is understandable for children and is too vague. It's still a fun story for kids to look at though.

A sweet story of friendship and grief for young children. The book also has some beautiful illustrations .

I received an ARC through NetGalley from Penguin Random House Canada. This picture book is a serene story of a bear who’s world was quiet, grey and repetitive until he got a new neighbor that brought color and activity to his days. Soothing illustrations and coloring. This is an emotional story that children will pick up on through the words and pictures. They will see the change that comes from letting good into your life. Recommended ages 4-7.

I received an e-galley of this book from the Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley In exchange for an honest review.

The Invisible Bear is like a soothing and comforting song for the weary and lonely souls of the world. It spoke to the quietest parts of me and blessed me with a sense of serenity and peace. Bear has been living by himself, in his own little world, without change, without colour, and without joy. This is seen in the beautiful details in the illustrations - there are little subtle details throughout the book that really enhances the mood and sentiment of the book - the little rain cloud that follows him, the sad face in the steam rising from his tea. Soon, change comes in the form of Mrs. Odette, who makes her appearance with the first splash of colour we see - warm orange dragonflies. Soon, the bear finds that he is not so alone and not quite so invisible anymore.

This was a subtle, touching book that melted my heart with its story and especially in this lonely time of living through a pandemic, there is a feeling of solidarity even in solitude.

This is a sweet, simple book about how a person can change your life just by offering a different perspective. The illustrations are calm and beautiful. The friendship between the two characters is pure and is a good depiction of how different qualities can add to a relationship. I think this would be a fine addition to a personal or classroom library.

“The Invisible Bear” has illustrations so stunning I’d buy the book to view those alone. As for the story—it was onto something precious and profound, but seemed a few pages too short, leaving you to patch together deeper meaning. Perhaps this was intended. I think the reader (especially a young one) would’ve benefitted from more context. If you fill in the gaps yourself, exploring what emotions the bear or woman was experiencing, you can walk away still having empathized and learned a lesson.

A touching story about a lonely bear that gets an upbeat new neighbour, who shows him how to look at the world a little differently. I am absolutely buying a copy of this book to add to my library. Not only is it a sweet story, but it's also filled with beautiful illustrations.

This was a wonderful story about grief and a nice way to show children how to handle a tough life topic.

There once was a bear who felt invisible and lived in a colourless world. Then one day he got a neighbour! Madame Odette makes the world colourful! And perhaps, a friendship can grow...

This is a unique story that felt very homey and kind. It seemed like this book was all about friendship and letting people into your life. I think some young readers may not get that without a little bit of instruction, but that doesn't change how absolutely wonderful this book is. I could easily see this book being used as a cute bedtime story or an educational tool. What a gem!

The illustrations are beautiful - soft and simple with what seems like a water colour base. I really enjoyed how this style worked with the story!

Three out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

A beautiful and sweet story about a lonely bear who meets his new neighbor. I found this story to be touching and sweet. The art style in particular was stunning and very beautiful. The friendship between the bear and his neighbor was lovely and the ending of the book was so sad but sweet. I think this is just one of the loveliest books!

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Cecile Metzger and Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a sweet book about friendship and appreciating each other’s differences. The illustrations were beautiful, each page was like looking at a watercolor painting.