It's a race to the finish as young Meto chases a motorcar through the African savanna. A girl is in that car, and she has forgotten her little bear. Meto must get it back to her! Taking a shortcut through the marshes, he comes upon his friends-Hippopotamus, Lion, Elephant and Giraffe. Can they help Meto return this strange little animal in time, before the girl flies off and leaves Africa forever? Illustrated with glowing watercolor paintings, Satomi Ichikawa's charming story celebrates the people and animals of the African savanna, and in the simple loss of a toy bear, reveals the humanity we share across the world, even with the youngest.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
What a treasure!:
I don't remember how I was referred to this book, but I am so glad we read it. The story is very well-written, engaging even for my 2 and 4 year old children.
The story is written in first person, told from the perspective of an African child, whose family lives on the savannah plains. Some caucasian tourists come for a visit, and the young girl forgets her teddy bear. Meto, the young boy, then has quite an adventure as he runs across the savannah, trying to catch up to the girl and return her animal to... more info
Magical:
This book was inspired by a Safari to Kenya and Tanzania. I was part of the group that travelled with Ms. Ichikawa to Africa. The beauty of the land, the warmth of the people, and the magic of the wildlife is all recreated here... of course, in a simplified manner that makes it accessible to children of all ages. The First Bear in Africa is a story of two children learning about each other's culture. Since there are no bears in Africa, this additional clever twist adds another layer to a wonderful story.... more info
