What the...?!

I'm just sitting here laughing because I don't get it. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to get it. (Okay, to clarify, I get it. But I'm trying to read this as a child would, and I keep coming up confused.) It's not that the illustrations aren't charming (because they are) or that the overall message isn't sweet (because it is), but there's obviously a lot of symbolism and metaphor here that's likely to go over readers' heads. Like when the bear is illustrated in a sequence of filling up with grey and then a raincloud appearing over his head. (I'm still not sure if that's how he saved Madame Odette's flowers. Is this magical realism? Or is it some sort of statement about using negative emotions constructively?) The book ends with Madame Odette dying (she loves her dragonflies so much that she flies off with them) and leaving the bear a gift. And the gift represents... not feeling invisible?

Honestly, I'm just confused. Maybe I didn't get it after all. (And I really don't get why this was thought to be a good story for kids. Aside from the cute bear, there's really not much here that seems like it's going to appeal to younger readers.)

This was such a lovely story. The illustration style was incredibly beautiful and unique, and I loved how the color changes during the story. This is one I will definitely share with my children. As an adult reading it, it filled me with all kinds of unexpected emotions. 5/5 Stars, highly recommended!

Lovely watercolors and spare, poetic prose tell the elegiac but ultimately hopeful story of a lonely bear who learns about the joy of friendship and the importance of remembering lost loved ones. This is a gentle, artful look at depression and grief that can help children deal with death and anxiety with hope and love in their hearts.

This book has beautiful illustrations! The story overall though was very confusing. I’m not really sure what it was about? I’m guessing there is a miscommunication with the translation.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. The illustrations themselves tell a beautiful story of friendship adding color to someone’s world. The story itself is very confusing. It could be that the translation needs to be considered more carefully, but the words make very little sense.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review a digital advanced copy of this book.

I read this book with my 5.5 and 3.5 year old. I'd like to start by saying that we generally read our picture books in physical form and not as an ebook. There is something special about a book in the hands of a child. They love to sit and explore the pages and the illustrations, My kids were not huge fans of reading this in digital format.

This is the story of a bear who feels invisible and spends his days alone in his quiet colourless home. Then someone moves in next door to bear and she is noisy, loud, bright and colourful. Bear isn't sure how he feels about his new neighbour. But through a simplest of kindness they meet, become friends and are both changed by the gifts they bring each other.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful. My children were mesmerized by all there was to discover in each illustration. They are truly pieces of art. However, the story itself was a bit confusing and it felt as if there were a few pages missing that would have helped fill in exactly what happened. it was a bit confusing for my kids and myself as well. I feel as though this would make a wonderful wordless picture book in which the reader could be left to explore and fill-in their own interpretation of the story. I wanted to love this book but as it is it was just missing something for myself and my kids. I'll be giving this book 3 stars mainly because we loved the artwork so much.

I was quite confused by this story. The images are lovely and the story started out ok, but there are some clear holes in the story. It jumps from the bear being able to help, to the bear and the lady hugging, and then she is gone. It needs some filler in there. I am not quite sure who the intended audience is.

The art is beautiful in this sweet but rather confusing little picture book. A bear feels invisible and lives in a very silent, empty world. An older lady moves in next door and her yard/life is full of color and stuff (lovely stuff like flowers and an excessive number of dragonflies). They help each other, and then she abruptly leaves but he realizes he's not invisible after all.

Children are likely to be confused by the ending and the moral of this book. To be honest, adults are, too. The art is so lovely and the tone is so gentle that I think that's probably okay. Families can discuss it and come to their own conclusions. It may be hit or miss, but it's probably worth checking out for the art alone. We don't have to understand every painting or poem to get something out of experiencing them, and sometimes it's good to have to think a little.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books for this free copy of the book in return for an honest review. I am puzzled at this book. It is rather simplistic and to me it makes little sense. The illustrations are OK for little kids, but again a bunch of those I cannot figure out. Bear feels invisible, a woman moves next to him and brings color and sound. They become friends, she leaves and he realizes he is not invisible. I am lost. It may need more pages, or more than spartan illustrations. I understand there is a message of kindness but I am just not getting much out of this book. Sorry.

The Invisible Bear is a perfect minimalist book for children that does not disappoint! Our family cannot recommend this book enough! Beautiful!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of beautiful illustrations. It is about a bear that is alone and his surroundings are drab. Until one day Madame Odette moves in next door and fills his life with color. I found it to be a great book of friendship and opening yourself up.