Picture books for children of today and tomorrow
The winter survival of a bear who decided not to hibernate
A wordless picture book by Bologna Ragazzi Award-winning author Guridi

This is a wordless picture book that captures the image of nature seen through the eyes of a bear.
It contains a winter story unlike any other, which a bear encounters.
In the fields and forests where winter has come, bears roam here and there in search of food.
Even if you look closely at the tree branch and shake it, there is nothing to eat.
I wander around trying to imitate a deer with an empty branch, but I get caught by a real deer and feel embarrassed.
The frozen ice breaks and the snow melts, revealing the trash hidden in the snow.
Bears pick up trash discarded by humans and throw it into trash cans.
The bear tries to hibernate, but sleep doesn't come.
So this winter I'm determined not to hibernate.


The delicate black drawing against a white background is a mix of charcoal, graphite and a bit of digital technique.
And just a little touch of red, yellow and green shows the damage caused by humans.
What is normal behavior in a devastated environment? The author, who calls this a picture book for children of today and tomorrow, delivers a clear message: "There is no Planet B."

Bears eat a lot of food in the fall.
This is to store energy as fat and hibernate during the winter when food is scarce.
When the cold sets in, bears choose dens for hibernation and reduce their movements.
Your heart rate drops, your body temperature drops, and your body movements slow down.
Under normal circumstances, it reduces energy expenditure, allowing us to cope with food shortages.
However, recently, unusual events have occurred in which bears are unable to hibernate due to abnormal temperatures caused by global warming.


Of course, even if you don't sleep well, as long as you get enough nutrients, there is no harm to your health.
However, rising winter temperatures do not necessarily mean easier food for bears.
More important than temperature is the duration of sunlight.
As the hours of sunlight gradually increase, animals and plants prepare for spring and can produce leaves and fruit again.


The author said that he was inspired to create this picture book after reading a news story about bears rummaging through garbage dumps in Norway and Iceland.
“I found the news heartbreaking and a clear example of how absurd the situation we have reached is.
From the beginning, the approach was that of a bear who decided not to hibernate and to go through each place to enjoy each place he inhabits again.
For me, this book is about the pursuit of solitude, direct contact with nature, silence and reflection.”

The author says that of all his books, this picture book is the most minimal and symbolic.
“I composed the image in a way that took into account the observer and the observed.
I felt like a bear, taking into account the little details around me.
At first I thought it was a story about a white bear, but I ended up liking the contrast of black and white more.
The symbolism of this book can be found in the appearances, situations, and intervals shown.
“I know some people will think it’s simple when they finish reading the book, but to me, it symbolizes the difference between simplicity and ordinariness.”

Here's what we have to say about how to view this wordless picture book:
“You should read without rushing and find the right moment.
“Because this is a book for contemplation, thought, reflection, and reaction, don’t rush through it, but read it with a careful and leisurely attitude, as if you were in nature.”

The author points out real-world problems through the story of a bear facing unfamiliar environmental changes due to global warming.
A picture book for everyone that can raise awareness of environmental issues.