Middle Bear

Middle Bear struggles with his place in the family – he’s not the youngest or the oldest and feels overlooked and not special at all. When their parents fall ill, the brothers set off to retrieve medicinal willow bark and it is only Middle Bear who is exactly the right size to cross the icy stream and retrieve the precious bark. He is honoured for his accomplishment and finally feels special. This engaging picture book for K-4 celebrates individuality despite birth order and is a useful read-aloud to foster empathy and encourage discussion of acceptance, recognition, identity, perseverance, and family dynamics.