Mika the Bear is Afraid of the Dark

by Yann Walcker, Nicolas Duffaut (Illustrator)

Overview

This beautifully illustrated tale of a little bear confronting his fear of the dark will inspire children to do just the same—and turn off the light!

The longest night of the year is fast approaching and Mika is terrified. As the sun goes down, the dancing shadows, whistling wind, and other hisses and crisses all become too much for this little polar bear.

But this year, his cousin will help him confront every single fear, one by one. Will Mika get over them?

My First Picture Books are the perfect first story books for young independent readers and parents who read to their children. The stories touch upon fundamental themes such as friendship, love, tolerance, and family in an accessible way. The cute illustrations make these books very attractive.

Yann Walcker is a songwriter and children's author who has won many prizes including the BolognaRagazzi Prize, which he was awarded twice!

Nicolas Duffaut lives in the Southeast of France where he works on his stylish illustrations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9782733843253
Publisher:	Auzou
Publication date:	09/13/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

Editorial Reviews

2016-07-20
Mika is a young white polar bear whose imagination works double-time—particularly at bedtime.His cousin, Vanilla (a surprising name for a black bear), comes to visit just before the longest night of the year and tries to help him work through his fears. With a trusty “torch” (a flashlight—clearly the translator was influenced by British idiom), Vanilla helps him see that the Giant Snow Monster with the gun is only a snowman with a plain old broom, and the dark shadows are not hunters with weapons but penguins with ice-fishing equipment. Two “huge snakes” (apparently this Arctic has snakes as well as penguins) turn out to be skis. A “dragon” becomes a friendly sled dog, and a spider turns out to be a black umbrella. Mika even begins to take charge when Vanilla seems to be frightened of two heads on a wall. The white bear confidently tells his cousin: “Don’t tell me you’re scared of a mirror!” Translated from the French, this is a story meant to help children work through their fears. It doesn’t quite make enough sense. Although readers are shown the objects that Mika fears, they never see the mirror that so throws Vanilla. But the bold pictures and the retro colors are fun. And just what is that red alien stuffed toy with one cyclopean eye that Mika drags everywhere? The long polar night will never be the same. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews