THIS BEAR IS BLUE

A park ranger, leading the reader on a colorful tour of his nature park, encounters an unexpected bear - a bear who is blue, wears pearls, rides a scooter, plays the violin, and serves tea to squirrels and rabbits. When the ranger protests that bears aren’t blue, the bear is confused. No one has ever told him he shouldn’t be blue or wear pearls or have afternoon tea. Through witty dialogue reminiscent of classic comedy duos like Laurel and Hardy, the bear continues to comfortably assert his identity while the ranger slowly accepts that this bear is, in fact, blue. And that’s okay.

COMP TITLES:

With the humor and silly absurdity of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Mo Willems, 2003) and the suspense of the Little Golden Book classic, The Monster at the End of This Book (Jon Stone and Michael Smollin, 1971), This Bear Is Blue will appeal to children 3-adult (Hey, we’re kids, too!) who love to giggle at nonsense. And like Molly of Molly’s Tuxedo (Vicki Johnson, Gillian Reid, 2023), the confident, joyful protagonist of This Bear Is Blue confirms for children (and adults) that it’s okay to be yourself!

MANUSCRIPT: The dummy for this book is in progress.

This Bear is Blue - 376 words

Dialogue Notes for Clarity

• Park ranger: Looking out at reader initially, then distracted by bear and speaking to bear

• Bear: Responding to ranger

• Artist notes

(1) Title Page

(2) Copyright

(3)

(Park ranger, speaking to reader)

Hello! Welcome to the nature park!

I’m so excited to show you all of the beautiful colors here in our lovely forest.

Let’s get started!

(4-5)

Ahhh, here we are…

This tree is brown.

Its leaves are green. 

Aren’t they lovely?

(Continues on)

This rock is gray.

This flower is pink.

This bear is blue.

(6-7)

(Does a double-take)

This bear is…

(Addressing the bear)

Wait...you can’t be blue.

Why not?

Well...because bears aren’t blue.

They’re brown. Or black.

Except for polar bears, which are white, of course.

So, you see, you can’t be blue.

Except that I am blue.

(8-9)

(Ranger considers this)

What’s wrong with you?

Nothing. I don’t think so, anyway.

Alright, fine.

(Addressing the reader and continuing the tour)

This bear is blue.

This shrub is…

(Addressing the bear…he can’t let it go)

...but how did you get to be blue?

(shrugs) I was born this way.

(10-11)

Wait...are you wearing...pearls?

What’s wrong? Don’t you like them?

Well…yes…they’re lovely.

(Smiling shyly at the compliment) Thank you.

You’re welcome. 

(Catching himself…)

It’s just that...well...bears don’t wear pearls.

Why not?

They just…don’t.

Oh my. I wish someone had told me. I’m rather fond of them now.

(Sighing in resignation, returning to the reader) 

We’d better be moving on.

(Feigning a chipper disposition for the sake of the audience) 

Lots of colors to see!

(12-13)

Ahem…

This butterfly is…

(Bear zips by on Vespa, wearing a helmet, of course, with tea cakes, sandwiches, and a violin packed on the scooter.)

(14-15)

(Ranger bellows) STOP!!!

Just what do you think you’re doing?!

(16-17)

(Plainly) Riding my scooter.

But WHY?

Because it’s faster than walking. 

And it has this nifty basket so I can carry things.

(18-19)

(Knowing it isn’t worth arguing) 

Is that a violin?

It is! Want to hear me play

No, thank you.

(Looking worried. Returning to reader)

Let’s try to continue our tour, shall we?

(20-21)

This squirrel is…

...ummm…

What?

(The bear has caught his attention again)

What are you doing now?!

It’s teatime.

So I suppose you’re going to tell me that you’re serving scones and little crustless fish sandwiches?

Of course not. That’s silly. 

Thank goodness.

Fish is served at high tea. This is afternoon tea.

(22-23)

(Ranger looks like his head is about to explode. Show a series of expressions, increasingly losing control.)

(24-25)

(Ranger loses it.)

That’s it!!

This just isn’t right!

Bears aren’t blue!!

They don’t wear pearls…

They don’t ride scooters…

They don’t play violin…

And they DON’T! SERVE! TEA!!!

(26-27)

(Most of spread is ranger looking deflated…face still beet red, sweat streaming down his face. Bear looks cautious and concerned as the chaos from the ranger’s outburst settles around him) 

But I’ve already invited the squirrels. 

It would be rude to uninvite them.

(28-29)

(In defeat) 

Oh, all right!

Fine. 

You’re blue,

You wear pearls,

You ride a scooter,

You play the violin,

And you have teatime with squirrels.

The rabbits come, too, sometimes.

Of course they do.

Is there anything else I should know?

What do you mean?

I mean…are there any more of you?

Don’t be silly. I’m the only blue bear!

Oh, thank goodness. 

(30-31) 

Spread showing lots of animals, and bears of ALL colors. Blue Bear walks over to the crowds of animals, playing the violin, while other animals enjoy their picnic. Ranger looks exasperated but resolved. A purple bear offers him a cup of tea.

(32)

Spot Illustration - Bear on scooter, with Ranger on the back, holding on for dear life