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		Brave Bear written and illustrated by Kathy Mallat 1999 Walker Tr $14.95 ISBN 0-8027-8704-5 RTE $15.85 ISBN 0-8027-8705-3		"a gem of a picture book." School Library Journal
	Click to See the Blanket and Book
Reading Magic Award Parenting Magazine December/January 2000 Bear sees a young bird fall from its nest and wants to bring the feathery fellow home. But can Bear climb high enough? In this warm and fuzzy fable with sweet-tempered art, the hopeful hero thinks he can - and does.
A Society of School Librarians International Language Arts Picture Book Honor Book selection in the year 2000 Society of School Librarians, International
A Favorite Book Selection Safer Child, Inc.
A Being Brave Selection New York Public Library
A PBS's Between the Lions Picture Book Coping With Fear Selection Between the Lions
An Idaho State Library Selection as a Fiction Title Appropriate for Children 0-5 Idaho State Library
A Picture Book Selection as a Not "Just for the Birds" Book Kansas City, Kansas Public Library
Keene State College Festival Gallery Collection
October 25, 2002 Kathy Mallat Donates Original Illustration Kathy Mallat, the Maine representative on the Keene (NH) State Colleg Children's Literature Festival Advisory Board, brought to the 2002 Festival the original illustration--"Can I help you?"--from her book Brave Bear, published by Walker and Company in 1999. The illustration was made using sakura oil pastels, liquitex acrylic paint, and prismacolor colored pencils. Kathy donated this work in honor of her parents who are both Keene State College alumni: David W. Sherburne ('48) and Agnes Plaine Sherburne ('47).
Creating the Art Helping Hands - a family project
The photo "I need help."			The finished art "I need help."
Personal Note I'm not embarrassed to admit that the inspiration for several of my stories have come from stuffed animals. While shopping at a store in Alfred, Maine, I saw a stuffed bear that I absolutely loved. It was quite expensive, however, and I couldn't quite justify spending the money to buy it for myself. A short while later the idea for a book popped into my head, and I knew immediately who the main character would be. Finally, a reason to buy the bear! I needed him for "work".
How a book takes shape. Storyboarding.
Setting up the pages		Pacing the text		Sketching the art ideas
A photo study "Thanks."			The finished art "Thanks."
School Library Journal September 1999 PreS - Gr 1 - A little bear wants to help a baby bird who has fallen out of his nest. He musters up his courage and together they slowly inch their way up the tree. The story unfolds through short, evocative sentences: "I'm not sure that I can ... but I'll try," "I'm scared." The text allows young children to imagine themselves in the furry brown cub's situation. The delightful illustrations provide the details: the bird's disappointment when the bear expresses his initial doubts, the complication when his striped shirt gets caught on a branch, the cooperation between the two new friends that results in success. This is a gem of a picture book that is a great catalyst for discussion about emotions and overcoming fears, and a perfect choice for beginning readers. -- Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
School Library Journal
Kirkus Reviews Persistence pays off in this captivating story of a small bear who comes the rescue of a bird fallen from its nest. Despite his uncertainty about being able to reach the top of the tree ("It's so tall"), the bear presses on, fueled by an ongoing, I-think-I-can pep talk to himself (that may make preschoolers feel bold, for he realistically expresses a few doubts), and by the encouragement of his tiny new friend. Minimal text allows the illustrations to take center stage, for the real beauty of the book is in the wonderful perspectives that offer readers a "bear's-eye view" of the obstacle he successfully tackles. (Picture book. 2-5)
The Horn Book Magazine September/October 1999 A small, friendly bear overcomes his fear of climbing to carry a fallen bird back to its nest. The opening double-page illustration foregrounds a tall tree on the left and begins the story on the right as the bear approaches the fallen bird, asking, "Are you all right?" In similar fashion, each of the following spreads holds only a few words and focuses squarely an the teddyish bear and small blue bird as they make their way up the tall, tall tree. The bird's forlorn expression in response to bear's initial doubts ("I'm not sure that I can") prompts a valiant start ("but I'll try") on the following page. When bear's shirt is caught as they near the end of a long, outstretched limb, it's the bird's turn to help), and - "We're almost there." The fine-lined black border and white space surrounding each large spread lends a cinematic feel to the story while long roots and branches bursting through picture's edge add drama to the climb. The final single-page picture is a classic final shot: the safely nested bird and comfortably perched bear are framed by a soft yellow sun, and the two friends reach out in a gentle wing-to-paw touch. L.A.
The Horn Book magazine
Thank you note from a student.
Welcome	About Kathy	Books	Author Visits	Q & A	Email Kathy
News					Awards & Honors