Beady Bear by Don Freeman

Beady Bear by Don Freeman

Upon its 1954 debut, the cuddly classic Beady Bear was praised by The New York Times as the kind of book small children will delight in. Don Freeman, author of the acclaimed children's story Corduroy, recounts the whimsically illustrated tale of a wind-up toy who longs to live like a real bear. When Beady learns that bears are brave and live in caves, he resolves to give it a try ― and discovers that being real is actually about loving and being loved.
This longtime favorite is presented for the first time with its previously unpublished sequel, Beady's Pillow, another heartwarming charmer only recently discovered by the author's son. Beady's friend Thayer sets out to retrieve a pillow that the adventurous bear has lost, and when Thayer disappears into a cave and doesn't come out, Beady has a chance to prove his bravery.

Don Freeman was born in San Diego, California, in 1908. At an early age, he received a trumpet as a gift from his father. He practiced obsessively and eventually joined a California danceband. After graduating from high school, he ventured to New York City to study art under the tutelage of Joan Sloan and Harry Wickey at the Art Students' League. He managed to support himself throughout his schooling by playing his trumpet evenings, in nightclubs and at weddings.

Gradually, he eased into making a living sketching impressions of Broadway shows for The New York Times and The Herald Tribune. This shift was helped along, in no small part, by a rather heartbreaking incident; he lost his trumpet. One evening, he was so engrossed in sketching people on the subway, he simply forgot it was sitting on the seat beside him. This new career turned out to be a near-perfect fit for Don, though, as he had always loved the theater.

He was introduced to the world of Childrens' Literature, when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!

Don died in 1978, after a long and successful career. He created many beloved characters in his lifetime, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear, named Corduroy.

Don Freeman was the author and illustrator of many popularbooks for children, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and theCaldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low. For more information about Don Freeman, please visit:

www.donfreeman.info

Lisa McCue has illustrated many books for youngreaders. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780486797137
ISBN 10	0486797139
Title	Beady Bear
Author	Don Freeman
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Dover Publications Inc.
Year published	2015-10-30
Number of pages	96
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable