Bear is a guide dog who one day becomes blind like his owner. He is misled into the forest by some raccoons and then gets lost and must find his way back home. This book would good for a 2nd or 3rd grade classroom. It can be used to show life with a guide dog but also could be a good example of graphic novel/picture book.

Recommended Ages: Gr. 5-7 (appropriate for younger but the double imagery may be confusing to younger)

Plot Summary: Bear was born to be a police dog like his siblings, but he just wasn't cut out for the job. Instead, he trained to be a guide dog and was matched with Patrick, a 28 year old man. Most guide dogs have to keep the same routine every day, but Bear does not and can help Patrick get to his vending machines to fix. It's a perfect match and both Bear and Patrick are happy until one day, Bear's vision disappears. It happens quick, and it scares Patrick. They make it back home, where Bear sleeps and Patrick calls Meg to come help. While Meg and Patrick make a plan, Bear talks to the family of raccoons that is living under the house. The raccoons convince him to go to the woods to find the other animals that can see without their eyes. Bear trusts the raccoons and follows them into the forest. What will happen when they come across three real bears, two of which are very hungry?

Setting: possibly out west in Oregon because of the trees, city with city bus but close to the forest

Characters:
Bear - half golden retriever, half chocolate labrador
Patrick - 28 yo, vending repair man, loves to read
Meg - woman who works at the guide dog place
Jake - Bear's brother
Andromeda - bat
Stone - friendly bear
Jasper and Flint - Stone's brothers who are hungry
Uncle, Denver, Triplets - raccoons

Recurring Themes: confidence, teamwork, guide dog, blindness, success,

Controversial Issues: none

Personal Thoughts: This fictional book has some really amazing moments. I learned so much about guide dogs and being blind. I was confused by the illustrations often and would probably do better rereading it after seeing the character sketches in the back show two different ways to illustrate the same character. The author's note about how the brain is the main organ that helps the body see is fascinating. Also, as an adult, I really liked the happy ending with Patrick and Meg.

Genre: realistic fiction that has some imaginative parts that some students could perceive as fantasy

Pacing: fast, graphic novel
Characters: a little confusing because the characters can be drawn in two different ways to prove a point that your brain is what sees the picture, not just your eyes, for example the bear Stone resembles a dog in Bear's mind
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: ( )

Recommended by Hannah at the Carle bookshop

A remarkable story of two halves of an equally devoted pair: there's Patrick, a blind human who repairs vending machines, and Bear, a lab/retriever canine who comes from a family of K-9 dogs but works as a guide dog and is matched with Patrick. The two get along beautifully - until the day Bear sees something frightening. It's a black spot in his vision, growing until it takes over, and Bear worries: how can he be Patrick's guide if he can't see?

Tricked by a family of raccoons, Bear goes into the woods, where he meets a real bear (and pictures his den like a human den, with an armchair and lamp and bookshelves). Bear and bear leave the forest and wind up in Manhattan, where they meet bats in a church bell tower and Bear's littermate, Jake. Paralleling Bear's journey is Patrick's journey, together with Meg, who trained Bear, as they search for him.

This book is an emotional journey with pinpricks of humor throughout (and, spoiler alert, the dog does NOT die).

See also: The Rough Patch by Brian Lies, Rescue & Jessica by Jessica Kensky ( )

A weird and displeasing fantasy story about a guide dog named Bear trying to cope with the sudden onset of his own disability. While his owner searches for him, Bear wanders around and gets involved with various raccoons, bears and bats, ending up in New York City. The story required more dumb coincidences than I could tolerate. ( )