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Jul 11, 2014forbesrachel rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Little Ella sets out to write a book full of pretty things, fairytale excitement, and danger. She has one rule, there will be no bears! She emphatically states this over and over. As one might expect though, hanging around the edges, just beyond the reach of the story, is a bear. Once Ella's prelude is over, she starts to create her story. Her book centers itself within the two page spread, and shares the page gutter of the actual book. From the sidelines the bear observes and even participates, all the while staying hidden from Ella's sight. Up until the end, she proclaims the greatest thing about her book is the lack of bears, funny thing is that he ends up saving the princess, therefore making him an essential asset. An expressionistic and colourful style fits the idea of expressing ones creativity, especially in the context of a fairytale setting. Most of the characters have no mouth, and pinprick eyes, so their thoughts are solely portrayed through body language. No Bears is actually two stories in one, the first is about a little girl and a bear who meddles with her effort, and the other is the fairytale itself. The fairytale may not be very original, but its incorporation into the encompassing text is. Ironically, it is the bear's presence that makes this book about a book great.