No one told him books weren't for bears. At first he couldn't read but Mr. Owl taught him.
Capstone Edition and Net Galley let me read this book for review. It will be available July 31st.

He goes looking for more books but everone chases him out of their store. Books aren't for bears.

Then he meets a librarian and she invites him in.

Will he be able to check out books?

This was a fun book to read.

Books Aren’t for Bears is a charming picture book about a bear who discovers a love of reading. His journey leads him into the city where he seeks more books, but he is told “books aren’t for bears.”

*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***

The illustrations are a delight, and add a few surprises to the story. But what I most loved was the ending. It shares a message of the value libraries bring to their community, a place where “books are for everyone.”

This charming read-aloud is highly recommended to anyone who loves reading and their local library.

Review post scheduled for May 29th.

This book was great! The humor (and digs at the adults who will read it aloud) was perfect. The message that reading is for everyone was explicitly and implicitly stated, which is wonderful to see as a mama and educator myself. The vibrant pictures, the easy to read font, and the flow of the story were wonderful elements of the book. This one is one to be treasured for a while!

Bear found a book in the forest, learns how to read, and wants to read more books. This delightful story has a great message teaching that reading is for everyone! I absolutely loved the illustrations. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read an advanced copy!

One minor edit: on page 5, where it says "The words danced across the bright white pages. Bear didn't understand them, but suddenly he wasn't so content." I think it grammatically sounds better to say, "Bear didn't understand them, and suddenly he wasn't so content."

Books aren’t for bears is an adorable read for children and it also pacts a pretty hearty point that will unfold as you and your child/ children read through why books aren’t meant for bears.

The illustrations of this book also provide your child and or children a way to grasp and internalize what is happening in this story which is then coupled with the understanding of the actual reading.

All In all I believe children of all ages would thoroughly enjoy - Books aren’t for bears 🐻.

I loved this book! I think with the climate we are in right now with people trying to ban books in schools and libraries that this book is a breath of fresh air. It highlights that books are for everyone, even bears, and no one should be prevented from having access to books.

Very cute library book. As a librarian, I'm always looking for books that incorporate libraries and this is another I'll add to our shelves. I love the message that libraries and reading are for everyone. Love the illustration and colors, but was not crazy about the font choice. This would pair well with The Library Lion or A Library Book for Bear.

"Books Aren't for Bears" by Mark Barry is a charming children's picture book that teaches the value of reading and the importance of inclusion. When Bear stumbles upon a book in the woods, his curiosity is piqued, and he seeks to learn more about this new world of words. With the help of his friend Owl, he learns to read and falls in love with books. However, when he ventures into the city, he encounters people who believe that "Books aren't for bears!".

The story is beautifully written, with a simple yet engaging plot that young readers will enjoy. The illustrations are bright and colorful, bringing the characters to life and creating a sense of wonder and discovery. The book is perfect for children in PreK-2 and aged 4-7, and it provides an excellent opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss the importance of reading and inclusion.

The message of the book is clear: books are for everyone. It highlights the importance of accepting differences and embracing diversity, promoting the idea that everyone can find joy in reading. The book is a great tool for teaching children about the value of reading, and it encourages them to explore new worlds and learn new things.

Overall, "Books Aren't for Bears" is a delightful read that is both entertaining and educational. It's a must-read for any parent or teacher looking to instill a love of reading in young children while also promoting the importance of inclusivness and acceptance. The story is sure to capture the hearts of young readers and leave them with a newfound appreciation for the power of books.

I loved this book and the illustrations. This will definitely be an addition to my reading classroom. What a cute book about a bear wanting to find books to read.

I read this with my daughter and it was such a fun book! I absolutely love the message that reading is for everyone. I enjoyed that Bear loved reading so much that he left home to find more. Libraries for the win! My daughter thought he had found the library at first and when he was turned away she said out loud “But books can be for bears too!” So when he found the library she was so happy and able to relate, we are a library family!

The illustrations were very well done and went so well with the story. Loved all the bright colors too.

Books Aren't for Bears is written by Mark Barry. The story is a cute one about a bear who finds a book in the forest and after learning to read decides he must go on a search for more books! As a librarian, I love books that encourage reading- even by bears! The book has well done, colorful illustrations that are not too busy. Each page had a good amount of text per page to keep young readers and listeners attention. This will also be a great book for discussion of perseverance in pursuing a goal. This is definitely going on my "to-purchase list" for the start of the school year!

Such a colorful picture book highlighting the joy of reading and the importance of libraries. Bear has just one book and once Owl teaches him to read he wants more! So off to the big city he goes. The fun illustrations and bright colors bring this story alive. Bear searches through the town only to be told that books are not for bears. Will Bear ever read another book again? Thank you to Netgalley and Capstone for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.

A sweet and adorable story about a bear who discovered his love of reading and sets out to seek more books. It's well-written and really appealing.

Very cute story about a bear who just wants to read more books. Of course the librarian is portrayed as the hero in the book, but I loved it. Very cute and simple!

A book for library loving families for sure! My son loved the character Bear and his love of books. We greatly enjoyed Bear’s hunt for a place to read and feel welcomed. However, the last few and first few pages did loose my sons attention, but he likely was just a little bit younger than this books true intended audience. Overall a good book for kids of multiple ages who happen to love libraries and reading

When I found this picture book on Netgalley I immediately requested it! It melted my heart. Libraries are unsung heroes of every community and I love that this picture book chaptered its essence, comfort and necessity. In a world where book bans are making a comeback and screens are replacing written word, to have story like this to shine a light on simplicity that brings joy to every generation is priceless.

And what does my 4y/o think? We’ve been reading this book everyday so it is safe to say he loves it as much as he loves his library.

This book is suited for ages 3-6 (my estimation) with perfect colorful illustrations to accompany the powerful message.

Book comes out on August 1st 2023.

Thank You Netgalley & Capstone for this beautiful ARC.

This was such a cute story about a bear who finds a book in the woods, gets taught to read by a cute owl and wants to venture to the big city looking for more books. Only to find that grown ups won't let him read books until he comes to a library where his love of books is welcomed. I enjoyed this book. I think all kids would love this story.

Although I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you Netgalley and Capstone for the opportunity to read this story.

In this story, bear finds a book in the woods. He gets some help from his friends and falls in love with reading. But, since he lives in the woods, there aren't many books around... so, he goes in search of them. The beautiful illustrations capture Bear's journey to and through the city to find books. In each of the places he stops, he is told that "books aren't for bears!" I won't spoil the ending, but it is quite the adorable story. I love the bright colorful illustrations and the simple reading. It would be perfect for an early reader or for a young one with a not so long attention span.

This was a such a cute read!

Bear has discovered his love for reading and goes on a journey to find more books!

The introduction of libraries is wonderful to young readers and the fun, bright colours throughout are eye catching! I thouroughly enjoyed this children’s book.

🐻 This is such a sweet book! I love anthropomorphized animals in children’s books, and this example is awesome because a Bear really wants to read books!

🐻 The artwork is absolutely lovely and it enhances the story so much!

🐻 The story is quite simple actually, but the emphasis that books are for everyone is loud and clear. Personally, I loved that the library was the place where Bear was finally welcomed to read as many books as he liked. Libraries are awesome!

Thank you @NetGalley and Capstone for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.