SOMETIMES WE FALL

A mama and baby bear demonstrate the importance of trying despite the possibility of failure.

A mama bear is nestled high up in the branches of a tree, munching on a juicy purple plum. From below, the baby looks up at her longingly, worried about scratched paws and bumped noses; mostly, this little one is afraid of tumbling to the ground. Ultimately, the baby bear does fall, “which happens sometimes. And it’s okay.” Sound life truths. De Sève expertly depicts the mama bear as a loving caregiver who, with wisdom and encouragement, guides the baby bear from above, though she allows the little one the freedom to make mistakes and even get a bit roughed up along the way. And what follows is a tasty reward: The baby bear obtains its purple plum. Gardiner’s illustrations mirror the text’s soft elegance with a muted palette full of tans, lavenders, and deep browns. The bears are simply drawn but expressive. Feelings of longing and anxiety are palpable in a close-up of the baby bear’s face, its ears back as it begins to climb. What a lovely story of parenting and childhood, of paving the way without smoothing it.

A meaningful and tender tale of learning through experience.