Very Bear and The Butterfly
David Wise, Harry Lau
language
(SWP Enterprises, LLC, March 28, 2018)
Very Bear and The Butterfly by David Wise is a colorful fictionalized account of how Olympic Gold Medalist Wise met his wife after an injury turned his life upside down. Very Bear and The Butterfly is an illustrated children's picture book about a pleasant bear that forgets how to be friendly. Very Bear was kind and generous to all the animals in the woods. He always had plenty of food in his den and was willing to share it with anyone who came to visit. Very Bear felt protective about animals who were smaller than he was, and he’d frequently intervene when he saw larger animals bullying them. So when he saw Slypp, the weasel, teasing two field mice with blackberries that were tied to a stick, Very Bear got angry and threw Slypp into the nearby pond. Slypp detested getting wet, and she felt angry and aggrieved by Very Bear’s actions. She was determined to have her revenge. Before long, Very Bear was feeling pretty miserable and getting very angry about Slypp’s mean behavior. Then a lovely blue butterfly happened by. She noticed how unhappy Very Bear was, and she knew exactly what to do.David Wise's story for children, Very Bear and The Butterfly, teaches children how to take back control and gain perspective even when things seem really bad. After all, if Very Bear can laugh again after Slypp makes sure his winter hibernation is a terrible experience, how bad can things be?Harry Lau's illustrations bring Very Bear's emotions to life and as Flutters. the butterfly comes into Very Bear's life, the illustrations become more vibrant and vivid demonstrating the impact Flutters is having on Very Bear. One can really feel the wild and green places that Very Bear and Flutters visit and feel shivers when seeing the very angry Very Bear roaring his displeasures after failing to find a new den, undisturbed by Slypp, the weasel.