This book was ok. The story was decent, although very basic. I’ve read a ton of kids books though the years (I work at a daycare) and honestly I’ve read books with similar storylines that were much more engaging and entertaining than this one. The kids didn’t complain, but this book definitely won’t be going on the list of favorites.

This is a wonderful book! As a lifelong reader, I am always so happy when anyone loves books (even a bear, taught by an owl!). Little children love being read to and they will adore this book and the message it sends. The illustrations are beautiful. Highly recommended for public, school, and home libraries.

This book is utterly adorable with the best message. Reading is indeed for everyone!

I loved the pictures, especially of the animals.

I also loved that the hero of the story is a librarian!

So glad bear discovered the join of reading!

This book was so cute. It holds the important message that learning and reading are for everyone, in this case even bears. I would definitely buy this for any of the young children in my life.

This picture book is delightful! The illustrations are gorgeous; very bright and inviting! They will resonate with young readers.
The story is also wonderful and captures how great books leave us wanting more. And more!
The message is on target - books are for everyone! Bear meets resistance in his search for books but ultimately is welcomed at the library. It's a great message that extends beyond books, which makes this picture books perfect for readers of all ages. The very young will be focused on the joy of learning to read and being welcoming. Older students will be able to dive into deeper explorations of ways that society keeps people from accessing a variety of services.

I received a dARC from the publisher via Netgalley; this is my honest review.

I describe this book as precious. Bear is so innocent and all he needs to make his life fuller is books. After all, bear has plenty of good friends and a lovely home.
After digging through a waste can and finding no books he does find a little bicycle. Thinking the owner may be looking for it he decides to ride to the city and return the bike to its owner and maybe find books in the process.
Sadly, he is not welcomed at the school nor the bookshop where there is a plethora of books. He’s told very firmly that books are not for bears! His little face is so crestfallen and his bow tie askew.
Giving up on books and heading back to the forest, bear sees something quite unbelievable. Rooms full of wall to wall books and children reading. Then, oh yes then, a rather rotund librarian invites bear in and tells him books are for everyone! Bear gets a library card and a big stack of books. And since the little bike has not been taken by anyone, he decides the bike must have been intended for him all along.

We leave bear and friends immensely enjoying the books in their forest home. Best of all bear can keep the books for three weeks, return them and get more and it’s free!
Oh and you wonder reader, how does a bear know how to read? It’s simple, wise owl taught him.

Now sadly, here is the adulting in me. When bear encounters the school he goes in through an open door. No open doors at schools anymore. And how did bear get back home on his bike carrying all those books?

One must add Books Aren’t for Bears to your picture book collection.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Bear finds a book in the woods and decides he wants to find more so he goes to the city. Once there he goes to many different places full of books, but is told he can not be there. Finally, he finds a library where he is told he is welcome to check out as many books as he wants. When he leaves, he brings more books home so that the other forest residents can read too.
This was a nice way of showing books and libraries are for anyone.

My daughter loved that the owl taught Bear to read, and that the librarian was so nice to him! She’s a huge fan of the library and loved that just like her Bear loves to read and has discovered the library in this story, after a trip to the city. The plot line kept her attention throughout the book and was full of details she loved, from the forest friends to the adventure in the city with bright, fun, colors that kept the illustrations inviting and engaging. A book about books is always a must for our shelves and I know I’ll be recommending this one often!

Bear lovers and book lovers assemble! What a fun and whimsical book about a curious bear who finds his love for books. Like many of us, he can’t just stop after one book! Also quite inspiring in the sense that books are truly for everyone, especially bears!

A gorgeous new picture book about the importance of including everyone in the process of reading. I was delighted that it was the librarian who invited the bear to visit the library as it has always been my ethos as a librarian. Definitely a book that needs to be read and enjoyed everywhere and by everyone.

Book : Books Aren’t For Bears
Author : Mark Barry
Release Date : 01 Aug 2023

Thank you Net Galley, Capstone and the author of this book for an opportunity to review this ARC.

This book cover is so adorable. It caught my 3yo son and I’s eye when we were looking for new fun reads for bedtime. My son LOVES books and love bears and this was so fitting. The illustrations are so cute and so colorful and fun and he giggled through the whole story as we went on this fun book hunt adventure with the bear.

The ending was so wonderful that he cheered when they all got to enjoy the new library books. We were also very concerned about the bike but happy the bear gave it a new home. I cannot wait to share this book with him again and also see what is next for this wonderful author. We had a wonderful time sharing this together.

Books Aren’t for Bears is an adorable book. The pictures are colorful and amazing. It holds a deeper message for adults that young children may not completely understand for example adults not paying attention to important things. The story sends a great message that just because you are a certain way for instance being a bear does not mean you cannot do things that would be considered unexpected for instance a bear reading. Would highly recommend this story.

Bear has just discovered his love for books, but now it seems no one wants to let him just sit down and read. "Books are not for bears," he is told. But maybe Bear can find a place where books are for everyone.

When Bear find a book in the woods he is instantly intrigued by the pictures and words so he enlists the help of his friend, Owl to teach him to read. Soon Bear cant get enough of books! He must have more! He travels into the big city and isn't welcome into various places that have books. He is told in each place that "Books aren't for Bears". Discouraged he is ready to give up until.... he is finally welcomed into a glorious place FILLED with books!

I loved this sweet book that not only encouraged the love of reading but all the inclusion of everyone. As a former Kindergarten teacher and current homeschool teacher I would use this book with my students, The illustrations were colorful and captivating. I would recommend this book for ages preschool through first grade.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. these opinions are my own

A simple picture book about a bear discovering a love of reading after finding a book in the woods. The book tells the story of his journey to find more books to read. I like how bear shares his books with his friends and reinforces the message that reading is for everyone.

The illustrations in this book alone would have me reading it, but the storyline is super cute! I think kids of all ages would really love this book!

Books Aren’t for Bears is such a cute tale! It tells the story of a bear who learns to read from his friend Owl, and then goes on the hunt for more books. I liked the tale, it’s so sweet

Adorable story with great pictures! The kids are asking for it over and over again. Such a great book reminding us that, although we are different, books and knowledge are for everyone. Love it!

Loved this book. I love that I showing reading as an enthusiastic adventure. The illustrations are great too.

This book was SO CUTE! My daughter is 4 and obsessed with all things reading. She loved the bear and his journey into town, and kept asking me why were the people being so mean to him! I loved the significance behind the one place he is finally welcomed and what he did after. 1000% recommend for anyone with littles. The illustrations are also beautiful and so well done.