Author: Pippa Curnick
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Details: £12.99, hardback, 32pp
ISBN: 9781444944112
Chatterbox Bear is such a fabulous book. The beautiful, bright illustrations drew the children in immediately, and the theme of the book led us down so many different paths of discussion.
The book gently addresses the topic of speaking in a different language to others and Gary the bear’s story allows children to explore the importance of communication and how powerful non-verbal forms of communication are.
In Hedgehog class, we spoke about times when we were the outsider or new person and how they felt, and also considered ways in which we could be a good friend and make people feel welcomed and accepted, even when spoken language is a barrier.
“Dot is like me,” remarked one child, “Because she finds it really interesting to notice people’s faces like I do. When I see someone smile, I smile back at them.”
Gary the bear is relatable to many young children (and their parents): he loves to chat, all the time, wherever he is, whoever he is with. But sadly for Gary, not everyone feels the same. In search of someone like-minded, Gary sets off in his less than seaworthy boat. There were gasps and the odd cry of “he’s going to sink!” But luckily for Gary, his boat made it across the ocean and transported him to a small island, full of talkative residents. Now he can chat to his heart’s content without anyone telling him to be quiet. Or can he?
The children quickly understood the message that bears can’t understand birds and birds can’t understand bears…argh, the dilemma. Gary battled on regardless, keen to make friends and to let the birds know his wants and needs, and the birds were resilient in their efforts to interpret what Gary was telling them.
Just as we thought that poor Gary might burst with frustration, Dot the watchful bird shares her observations with the others: that Gary’s tremendous eyebrows are the portal to his feelings. In glorious solidarity, the birds decide to make themselves eyebrows and learn to speak Bear. And finally, Gary can be the chatterbox he has always wanted to be.
The humour of the miscommunication and the funny eyebrows was not lost on the children and there was a unanimous “we love this book” at the end.
“My cousin would like the book because she really likes animals and this book has lots of them,” says Imogen, aged 4.
“I think we should share this story in the whole school because all the children will like how happy everyone is,” says Hudson, aged 5.
And Elsie-Willow, aged 5, said that although her brother is only 2 years old, he would also find it funny.
Many commented that they would recommend the book to siblings and parents because “it will make them laugh”.
The beautiful illustrations were as much of a crowd pleaser as the story itself: simple enough for the children to imitate, detailed enough to spark discussion, modest enough to elicit inference.
The continuous provision activities that naturally spun off from this book were wide-ranging and exciting. Role play, creative crafts and measuring linked to the story all featured in our classroom for the week. We chose different materials to make new eyebrows, built a sturdy new boat for Gary to travel safely in, and even created a whole new language to speak to Barry in.
Who’s Barry? Oh, didn’t I mention him? Well, I would suggest you read this quirky, funny book and find out.
Emma Robinson is a reception teacher at Raysfield Infants’ School, Bristol
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