Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book set, free of charge, from Meryl Moss Media Group, for review purposes on this blog. No compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it, all opinions are my own
Entrepreneur, illustrator, author and working mother Wendy Rouillard took her grandmother’s teddy bear and made it into a successful and growing business based on helping children.
The Barnaby franchise now include storybooks, coloring books, games, tote bags, back packs, and yes, Wendy’s stuffed bears. Even well-known names such as Drew Barrymore, Mister Rogers and Elin Hilderbrand have written blurbs about her Barnaby Bear books!
Her elastic imagination helps her imagine new possibilities. At a time when everything seems to be virtual, Rouillard is going hands-on—with proper precautions of course—and opening her first Barnaby’s Toy and Art Shack, a children’s café, art studio and store on Nantucket May 1! This venture was inspired by the lack of children’s book and toy stores on the island, and the need for homebound children to have a safe place to discover and explore.
Wendy wrote her first Barnaby Bear book for her senior thesis while attending the Parsons School of Design. Her entrepreneurial spirit was strong even then as she hand-sewed 200 Barnaby Bears to market along with 3,000 copies of his first adventure, which she wrote and rendered. The books and bears were an instant hit and Barnaby was off to meet the world.
Her growing business was built from nothing but the belief that children need this comforting furry companion to learn about life. Her board books are a primer to help little ones navigate and understand new experiences and the accompanying emotions. In a time when even grown-ups are adjusting to our strange, new world, Barnaby is a timeless, consistent and loyal companion.
Please watch her video, it really explains Wendy’s story and mission in her own words – and you’ll see she’s a dynamo! MEET BARNABY BEAR.
Synopsis:
The limitations of the pandemic hasn’t kept Barnaby from making new friends or trying new things. In his latest explorations, Barnaby is rambling around his home island of Nantucket. The joyfully colored pages of this board book spring to life as the little bear goes sailing with a whale, sips tea at a café, takes a nap in the daffodils and visits a beehive. Where, oh where, is Barnaby Bear? We're searching for him everywhere. Has he flown to the moon? Is he in a balloon? Is he up in a tree? Is he down by the sea? He's everywhere a bear should be!
People unfamiliar with children’s literature often make the mistake of thinking that a kid’s book is easy to write. However, due to the limited number of words and the need to convey complex ideas with sparkling simplicity, writing children’s books is as challenging as writing poetry. Rouillard and her furry muse have been crafting endearing stories for her appreciative audience for 20 years. And if Barnaby has anything to say about it, there are far more adventures ahead
Review:
This is an adorable baord book, perfect for young readers and for parents to read out loud from infants through toddlers. For young children this has been a very hard year, not seeing relatives, and as families struggle with deciding on vacations, this may be an excellent way to share an adventure with a young child. The small Barnaby Bear is perfect for children to hold while the book is read to them. Its a lovely baby shower present, as well as for a first birthday! Introduce your children to this 25th book and you'll introduce them to a whole new world!
About the Author
WENDY ROUILLARD created the Barnaby Bear children’s book series, and her artwork and stories have graced the covers and pages of many magazines, newspapers, and more than 25 children’s books. She has appeared on the Today Show, CBS News, HGTV, FOX Boston, NBC Miami, and West Orlando.
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