Brownstripe the Bear

By: Shlomit Cohen-Assif illustrations: Aviel Basil

Wings, a long tail, antlers, even fins – the little bear Brownstripe wants them all!After numerous attempts to make himself like other creatures, Brownstripe's mother helps him go back to being himself.

“Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot” (PirkeiAvot 4:1)

Who doesn’t fantasize every now and then about being like somebody else? The famous saying from PirkeiAvotteaches that true wealth is not measured by status, money, or fancy possessions, but rather by our capacity to be content with and enjoy what we have. For young children, envy is a natural and common emotion; all children have dreams and desires. Sometimes, comparing ourselves to otherscan stimulate us tochange and improve. But one who constantly believes that“the grass is greener on the other side of the fence,”or who becomes fixatedwishing to be someone else, is likely to end up feeling frustrated and dissatisfied. The verse from the Mishnah (“Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot”) reminds us that our happiness depends on our capacity to make peace with who we are and to rejoice in what we have.

Age Group: PRESCHOOL

Language:

110,000

הקיבוץ המאוחד

Nine d 2013-2014

שְׁמִירָה

Brownstripe envied the other animals in the forest. You might talk with your children about feelings of envy and jealousy, and share your own life experiences with them. Perhaps, when you were a child, you wanted to be like someone else? Do your children sometimes envy others? This is an opportunity to reinforce your children’s unique qualities and to encourage them to remain true to themselves.

You might talk together about the saying, “Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot.” What does it mean for you? Is everyone in your family happy with what he or she has? What do we, as a family, feel happy about?

People often say: “May all your wishes come true.” When Brownstripe gives voice to his wish, his wish is realized! You could ask your children if they, too, have wishes, or if they ever wished for something that came true. While the fulfillment of some wishes is not within our power, we can fulfill others. You can play a game together: each one takes a turn and makes a wish out loud. Be sure to focus on wishes that can be fulfilled (for example:” I wish I had a comfortable pillow under my head,” or “I wish I could curl up under a cozy blanket”). It’s natural to want things, and it also feels good to make someone else’s wish come true!

You can put on a skit based on the story. Create a tail, antlers, wings and fins using fabric and simple props. Your children can pretend to beBrownstripe, who envies the other animals; you, the parents, can play the parts of the other animals. At the end of the show, you can have a great time playing the mother bear who hears and sees Brownstripe through his costumes. Be sure to share a great big “bear hug” as a finale!

Brownstripe wants to have body parts that aren’t suitable for a bear. Each of our body parts has an important function. Together with your children, you could examine the illustrations throughout the book. Do your children know what the purpose of a lion’s tail is? Why do deer have antlers, and fish have fins? You can also go over our own human body parts and discuss the function of each.

The book “Brownstripe” is one of many children’s books that deal with the desire to be like someone else – for example, “The Fish that Didn’t Want to Be a Fish” by Paul Kor (in Hebrew), “The Mixed-Up Chameleon” by Eric Carle and “A Color of His

Brownstripe the Bear