For Christmas this year my mom got Libby this book.
Seems harmless, right? Its a sweet book about 10 bears who wake up from a long winters nap and go out of their cave. Throughout the day, one by one the bears go off and do different things, I guess helping the kid practice counting down. It's a sweet, well-illustrated book. Anyway, so at the end it says, "Nine weary bears have gone back home. But Look! one poor bear's left all alone. One Bear Lost." And it shows a picture like the one above with the bear all alone.
The first time I read the book to Libby nothing happened but this afternoon when I got to this page she started BAWLING. Like seriously crying her eyes out! I thought Maddie must have scratched her or something bit her to get this kind of a reaction. So I put the book away and didn't think much of it. Then this evening I pulled it out again to read to her before bedtime and again, on this page WATERWORKS. I mean HUGE tears rolling down her face and she just sobbed and sobbed! It was so heartbreaking!! I quickly turned the page and showed her how the other bears came looking for their friend and they all went back to the cave together. She was still upset and it took a couple of minutes for her to calm down.
So I got Tim to come into the room, I still couldn't believe a book could get this kind of reaction from her so I asked her if she wanted to read it again. She said yes so I read it again with Tim in the room. He watched her and said on the page before that one her lip started pooching and when I read, "One Bear lost". She burst into tears again! We showed her the end where all the bears are reconnected and it shows them all happy and sleeping in their cave again but she was still upset. It took a little while for her to be able to relax enough to go to sleep.
Wow. Lesson? I guess she understands a whole LOT more then I ever realized! I didn't know she knew the concept of being alone and that it was sad. Very interesting.
Needless to say, I think we'll put that book back on the shelf for a little while.
5 comments:
Wow! I HAVE to talk to one of my teachers about this. For a child to show sympathy or sadness for something else at such a young age is pretty impressive. Cool! :)
That's crazy! That sweet girl already has a huge heart. :) I love her!
SO incredible. I guess she REALLY understands the concept of alone, but isn't quite clear on its not being permanent! haha That is so sweet it almost makes me cry!
Awww! Poor baby! :-( How sweet!
oh, precious. dear libby.
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