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Get out the tissues before you settle down to read this gem with your child.

A Bear for Bimi is a beautiful portrayal of how people could, and should, come together to welcome a new immigrant or refugee family into their neighborhood. And if the message isn't enough to keep you reading, Yevgenia Nayberg's brilliant illustrations will certainly entrance you.

I loved this story! A Bear for Bimi shows a neighborhood react as an immigrant family moves in. We see families reach across cultural and national divides to become friends and thrive together with their differences. The story shows discrimination in a way that is easy for children to process, and the way fear is used during this scene to rationalize why some turn their nose up at immigrants will definitely make it seem less scary to immigrant children who read.

I'm absolutely in love with the illustrations. The art technique is beautiful, and so entertaining to look at. I know this book will keep families entertained and informed, and will definitely make difficult conversations with your child a bit easier!

This book is a great example of love and acceptance and how important to treat people like they are people, worthy of respect, friendship, and community. Loved the angular art and the good message.

What a lovely, simple picture book story about immigrant and refugee families. Evie, the young girl in the story, meets Bimi and his family as they move in to their new home. She, and eventually her neighbors, seek out ways to welcome them and smooth their transition over the next week or so. In the process, a reluctant but observant neighbor overcomes her own hesitancy towards the new family.

The author's note at the end explains the issue of refugees clearly and simply for young children. By suggesting ways that children can help, and by providing instructions for children to make a simple stuffed bear, Zalben concludes the book with a hopeful, optimistic tone appropriate for little ones considering such a huge issue.

This story is sure to produce thoughtful, insightful discussions and I look forward to sharing it with the elementary aged children in my school library! Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

I'm not crying, you're crying!! This was such a sweet book. It made me really emotional. With the way racial tensions are in our society currently, I'm really excited to see children exposed to books like these. This would be a perfect library story time book to share

New neighbours. New people. But that introduction of the other child character got me laughing!

This story depicts the story of a migrant family. It encourages children to accept people with all shapes and sizes, be educated about their background and respect diversity.

I love the haunting illustrations. It stands out.

Ah, we adults seem to have forgotten about the manners of being good neighbours.

That's why I love reading such storybooks as an adult. A gentle reminder from time to time.

Let's celebrate life in a peaceful way.

Thank you authors and the publisher for the advance reading copy.

I loved this sweet book! What a wonderful way to explain refugees and immigrants to children. The characters were so sweet and kind and the situation was explained in a thoughtful way that kids will understand. I loved the message of this book and will definitely read it to my children. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I received an electronic ARC from Lerner Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Evie and her parents make their new neighbors feel welcome. Bimi's family has traveled a long way to be in this neighborhood. Breskin Zalben offers readers a look at how difficult it is to be immigrants and what a difference welcoming neighbors can make. We see many who are helpful and friendly and one elderly neighbor who is not. The irony here is that she too was an immigrant.
Lovely illustrations build the mood along with the text. Many of my students will relate to the emotions shared and the love offered in something as simple as a teddy bear.

This is such a sweet book about Bimi! Many children can relate to her character and her attachment to her bear. I think it is an amazing story and a must add to your little ones library!

This was a delightful picture book! It centers around a neighborhood with a new immigrant family moving in. Some are wary and unwelcoming, but others take the family in with open arms, like Evie, who makes fast friends with the family's boy, Bimi. This is an important story that will be good for children who might have new people moving into their neighborhood. I liked the colors and the pacing, and the little guide on how to make a teddy bear was a lovely touch that will inspire many arts and crafts projects!

Evie is curious to meet her new neighbours. They are a refuge family who immigrated to America and have moved into her neighbourhood. She quickly discovers that not all of the community is happy that they are there. Accepting neighbours reach out and offer the family furniture and other necessities that they will need to set up their home. Evie and her family happily donate coats and curtains while books, a quilt, drawing paper and crayons, and a soccer ball magically appear just to name a few. Everyone pitches in and provides a lovely pot-luck dinner for the family so they can spend time together and get to know them more. Beautiful!

Evie is especially sympathetic and hospitable. Her compassionate heart offers their little boy, Bimi, her teddy bear so he will feel comforted in this new strange country. Through her act of kindness towards Bimi she gains a new friend.

The illustrations are lovely and enrich the bittersweet story. This is a wonderful book to share not only at home but in classrooms as well. The book will spark conversations of empathy and inclusiveness. I highly recommend this book.

Beautiful story about welcoming an immigrant family to the neighborhood! I loved how the neighbors came together to bless and help the new family. I also loved how welcoming Evie was and that she wanted to make the move a good experience for Bimi.

A Bear for Bimi tells of an immigrant's journey from the perspective of a new, young neighbor. Bimi and his family moves into the neighborhood, and are very different looking than their neighbors. Evie, the young neighbor, is told by her parents of the new neighbors, and is excited when they move in. Most of the people in the neighborhood pitch in and help Bimi's family to get the things that they need to live. But not everyone is so welcoming. One neighbor is fearful of the new family, until they cross paths and interact on their own.

Overall, this book is a great way to teach children about inclusion, welcoming new people, and treating others (even those who do not look like you do) with kindness and respect. Evie is a good model of that behavior, and her parents foster that kindness and inclusion in their teachings and interactions with her.

Overall, I loved the illustrations and the message of this book! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A Bear for Bimi follows the story of a young girl and her family welcoming a new neighbor, who is an immigrant. There were several things that I appreciated in this story: the use of Bimi's native language several times, the diversity of the neighborhood, and the fact that Bimi also had a give to share with Evie. I had been concerned that the story would be "savior"-esque, but Bimi's helpfulness and gifts to Evie help maintain the reciprocity of new friendships. I also loved that his family did not have to prove themselves, but were welcomed as themselves. I enjoyed the connections to Evie's family's own history. The illustrations are are quite stunning.

Such a bittersweet book for children. This is about one child and his family moving and another child and her family helping to welcome them to their new country. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is too.

This book is a prime example of how accepting children can be, often quicker than adults. I think most early -mid elementary students would enjoy this book.

Bimi and his family immigrate to The United States as refugees and move into a neighbourhood where not everyone is welcoming. Evie and her parents live in the same neighbourhood and try to make the new residents feel included. Evie gifts Bimi her teddy bear as a symbol of friendship, and the bear has a pivotal role in the story.

I loved Zalben’s story. She did a wonderful job showing us how to welcome people into our lives and that kindness generates kindness. The story also has a powerful message that sometimes, by doing the right thing, we can inspire others to rethink their preconceived ideas. I loved how this story reflects the innocence of children and how they perceive the actions of adults. Zalben also brings an important message of empathy. The way Evie empathizes with Bimi is simply beautiful.

Nayberg’s illustration is absolutely stunning. I was mesmerized by the images.

I love the overall inclusivity, representation and message in this book and feel it will be a great addition to any children’s collection! We can learn a lot from the Saids and the Golds.

Thank you, Kar-Ben Publishing, NetGalley and Jane Breskin Zalben for providing me with an advanced copy of Blossom and Bud in exchange for an honest review.
#ABearforBimi #NetGalley

This was a very sweet book about tolerance, friendship, homesickness, immigration, and gifts from the heart. Would definitely recommend for all children.

Such a beautiful lesson for young readers! The illustrations were lovely and the storytelling was simplistic without talking down to their audience. Great craft recommendations and blurb about immigrants that can aid in having a healthy conversation with your children.