I have received so many touching emails about how my books and the characters in my books become a special part of a child’s life. One story in particular I really want to share with you because the pictures sent with it speak volumes.
A few years back Kohl’s department store ran a promotion using my Bear series. They sold special versions of Bear books for $5 and for the same price they offered special stuffed animal Bear book characters. Proceeds benefited a children’s hospital charity. I was thrilled!
This wonderful promotion introduced thousands of children to Bear. Ian is one of those children. Ian’s mother, Beth, wrote to tell me Ian’s story, and it is so wonderfully illustrated with her adorable pictures that I actually teared up. It is a profound feeling to realize that a character who was born in my mind plays a vital part in the lives of children and families. It is a blessing I never imagined when I first dreamed of being a children’s author, and yet is the most gratifying part of my job. I have received literally hundreds of emails with similar stories and I am grateful for every single one.
Beth writes:
This is my son, who received a gift
of Bear Stays Up for Christmas and the toy bear right after he turned one.
This was taken the moment that Ian first unwrapped the gift of his Bear.
That was then… this is now:
We have since bought all of the Bear books. As you can see in the
pictures from the moment that he unwrapped his gift little Ian was in
love. Bear has since gone with him EVERYWHERE. To bed, to the park,
sledding… hanging off the back of his tricycle all around the
neighborhood…
Bear is practically famous at our church now, since he’s attended Sunday
school and preschool there as faithfully as Ian has. He even has his
own name tag there. Ian long ago created a voice for Bear, which I can
recognize from anywhere in the house, whether it’s Ian talking, or
Bear. Whenever anyone asks what his name is, Ian says, “just Bear”. He
and your stories about him have become a part of our family. I just
wanted to share our pictures with you and say thanks for creating Ian’s
very best friend!
Sincerely,
Beth
Thank you for writing Beth. I am touched and honored. That is one of the most well-loved teddy bears I’ve ever laid eyes on, and who could help but smile seeing that picture of Ian taxiing his good friend around the neighborhood? Ian is an amazing child.
K…
8 Comments
This is such a beautiful story. You have excellent taste, Ian! I know Bear and his stories will be faithful friends forever.
What a tear jerker, thanks for sharing!
That is one of the cutest things I have ever seen!!! I only wish we had known about Bear when Kohl’s was selling those adorable teddy replicas of him! I agree, Ian has great taste! You couldn’t find a much better buddie than Bear…”just Bear”. I love that he has his own name tag at their church, lol! Too cute, what a great story! : )
Sigh. Those are the cutest pictures. I am over on live journal and someone recently posted the cover of your book and I thought–I know her! So I looked you up! I am so happy to see all of your wonderful successes, Karma!
hugs, Mary
Hi all - Ian’s mom here. Thank you Karma for posting this, you know it will become a part of Ian’s keepsakes now! I also wanted to share that poor Bear is so bald because when Ian went through the “everything in the mouth stage” as a toddler he pulled the hair out with his teeth while snuggling Bear before falling asleep. I used to go in and collect large quantities of fur from the crib after every nap.
Thankfully that stopped after a few months. We wisened up for Ian’s little brother Caleb, and purchased two of the creature that became his lovey, so the wear and tear is going a little more slowly. Thanks again Karma. You are a very talented author!
Ian and Bear have been such a wonderful part of our church and seeing him each week brings joy and smiles to me and my wife. We love seeing his continued care for his bear. Ian shows the true meaning of love when he carries bear around. I only wish I had a bear like that when I was a kid.
I’m Ian’s Grandma. Both my husband and I have loved watching this relationship develop between Ian and his Bear, and have enjoyed playing our part. We have read him the Bear stories, and once had to babysit Bear, when he was accidentally left in Grandpa’s car and came home with Grandpa. We live an hour and a half away, so he had to be without Bear for over 24 hours! That was hard for Mr. Ian.
We created a small photo album for Ian showing Bear’s adventures while he visited with us.
Thank you all so much for commenting on Ian’s adventures with bear. I just loved sharing this story with my readers. Ian is so cute, and your collective love for him shines through in your comments! Thanks for stopping by. I would have replied earlier but I’ve been away in Texas!
K…