'Bear Wants to Sing' by Cary Fagan with illustrations by Dena Seiferling is an ebook about a group of animals that find some instruments in the woods.

Bear finds a ukulele and it makes a sound which inspires him to write a song which his friend mouse wants to hear. Before he can perform it, he is interrupted by a series of animals that are more insistent. Mouse wants to hear Bear's song, but will Bear ever get to sing it?

I loved this gentle picture book about a bear who wants his song to be heard in a noisy world. I love the illustrations and the thoughtful nature of this book. We could all use a friend like Mouse.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Bear finds a ukulele in the woods, and it makes a nice sound, so he decides he'd like to sing a song for his friend Mouse. Other animals keep butting in, however, singing their own songs about how great they are. When Bear finally gets to sing his song, his is more simple than the others' songs, and not as well received, causing Bear to not want to sing again. Mouse likes it, though- he says it reminds him of Bear. A sweet story about true friendship by Fagan, with soft, beautiful illustrations by Seiferling.

#NetGalley

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Bear Wants to Sing by Cary Fagan is an adorable and beautifully drawn tale about forest animals who find some leftover instruments in the woods. It teaches good manners, how to be a good friend, and even has some laughable moments. Great book for kids.

Bear chances upon some musical instruments left in the woods. After strumming a ukulele, he thinks he would like to sing his own song to his beloved friend, Mouse.

Before he can start, Crow shows up and caws her own tune.

Before Bear gets a chance, Snake enters the clearing and begins her song.

Other animals arrive and interject with their own ditties. All of their songs proclaim how great they are.

When Bear finally gets his turn, his song just asserts that he is a bear. The other animals are not impressed and Bear wanders off to be by himself.

Mouse follows him. He tells Bear he likes his song “Because it is just like you.” Bear helps Mouse find his own song and the two friends float merrily down the river.

The sweetness in this book might lead you to overlook the profound message it conveys. Yes, it's a wonderful book about friendship. But most importantly, it's about accepting who you are without judgement or comparison with others. Good friends help us get there.

Dena Seiferling's vintage style illustrations won me over in King Mouse. I'm delighted to spend time with her artwork here. I can't imagine this book any other way.

There is so much to love about this book. I knew immediately that this book was by the same illustrator as King Mouse, the illustrations are so memorable and whimsical. The story is simple but full of important lessons: taking turns, showing courage, and living to the beat of your own drum (or in Bear's case, to the strum of your own guitar). I love love this book and would definitely read it to my Kindergarten class! It's so sweet.

Cute short story about friendship and accepting oneself with beautiful monochromatic illustrations. There's always this one person who has the same thought as you, who love you as you are. A nice message to us all.

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advance copy for review.

I really enjoyed Bear Wants to Sing! Beautiful illustrations and text tell the story of Bear, who just wants to sing his song to his friend, Mouse. As other animals discover instruments as well, Bear gets pushed to the side while they sing and play their songs.

Mouse, being a good friend, continues to advocate for Bear's turn, and support him when the other animals are not impressed with his song. They end together singing Bear's song, and floating together in the river.

I think this could spark good conversations with children about taking turns, advocating for your friends, and about listening to others.

A very sweet story about a bear learning to appreciate his own humble song after hearing the flashier songs of the creatures around him. There are themes of waiting one's turn, interrupting, patience, and self-confidence.

The illustrations in this book were beautiful. Black and brown colorings for the illustrations, which is not super common in most books I've seen in recent years. I don't always like books with minimal colors in illustrations, but sometimes it just looks right- usually in books dealing with nature. I love books that deal with music so I was happy that that played a role in the book, but the book just felt like it cut off at a weird time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an egalley in exchange for an honest review

As a reviewer under the educator title, I don't review a lot of picture books. As a high school teacher, I tend to choose more middle-grade and YA books but this was SUPER CUTE. A bear finds a ukulele in the woods and wants to sing his song but the other forest animals barge in to sing their own music. Although all the animals were not impressed, I side with the mouse and enjoyed Bear's song. It is certainly a good story about accepting who we are despite what others might think.


Goodreads review published 02/06/21
Publication Date 14/09/21

This story of Bear and his woodland companions seems formulaic. Bear is the only animal with a personality not aligned with the nature of a bear. He is meek and mild, and always defers to others. When he finally sings his song, it isn't as well-developed as those of the other animals, and he lumbers off, dejected. He and Mouse float off by themselves, enjoying each others' company. That ending is a good one - you don't have to follow the crowd or be like everyone else to have some friends and be happy. But the issues of the other animals' rudeness and lack of empathy are never resolved. In a children's book, there should be a bridge to considering those behaviors. In a read-aloud setting, an adult can lead that discussion, but there is little here that would guide a child reading to themselves in that direction. The pen and ink (?) artwork is enjoyable in itself, but not in the context of this story. Here, it only serves to make a depressing scene darker.

This is a sweet picture book about a bear who wants to sing.Every time he tries a new animal turns up and gives it a go.When it’s finally bear turn the other animals don’t like it except for mouse.

In this picture book, Bear encounters several animals who want to be musicians. Bear has a song to sing, but is unable to share his song because all of the other animals step into his place and sing their songs first. When Bear finally shares his song, it is simply repeating over and over: I'm a bear. Mouse likes bear's song and gives him accolades for its simplicity.
This book could be used to teach about manners, taking turns and expressing yourself. It is simple, the pictures are great and it is a welcome addition to picture book lore.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Bear finds a guitar in the forest and wants to be a musician, just as he is about to sing his song another animal comes out to share their instrument and a song and then another. Will Bear ever get his chance to share his music?

The beautiful sepia-tone illustrations gave this children’s book added tenderness. The friendship between a bear and a mouse grows stronger when the forest animals take over the limelight from bear.
Perfect for elementary music classes and therapists.

Very cute story. What i got out of this story was no matter how bad you think you are at something there will always be someone who thinks ktherwise

Thank you NetGalley, Tundra Books, and Penguin Random House Canada for the digital advance reading copy of this book.

I love the monochromatic illustrations in this book, so simple but also captivating. I love how patient Bear is; Bear's song sounds exactly like something I would write. I love that Mouse is such an awesome friend.

Highly recommend this book!

This is a delightful book about a bear wanting to share a song with his friends whilst playing his ukulele. Unfortunately Bear keeps getting interrupted by all the other animals who want to show off their singing talents too whilst playing their own instruments. Once Bear gets his opportunity the other animals are very 'underwhelmed' as his song is very simple 'I'm a bear. I'm a bear ' Bear is disappointed that the other animals aren't impressed with his song but his good friend mouse saves the day as they float off singing the song together.
My daughter loved this book and it has a lovely message of friendship that would be perfect to share with children in school. The illustrations in this book are exceptional and bring this lovely story to life. I would definitely recommend this picture book and it would make a great gift for a young child too.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this in advance in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adored this sweet story and the lovely artwork by Dena Sieferling. The bear in this story reminds me so much of my husband lol. It's a really good one for early readers who are about at the level of the Frog & Toad books

This book is absolutely beautiful, both in terms of story and illustrations! Cary Fagan and Dena Seiferling make an excellent team, and kept up the momentum of their previous collaboration: King Mouse. This book is an unexpected musical journey for the woodland animals that blossoms a beautiful moment of friendship that is both heart-warming and sincere. I absolutely loved this book!