This story is about a big Brown bear and a small Koala bear. The Koala bear tells the story and calls the big brown bear "Big." The Koala bear wants to be able to do everything Big can do and when he can't he begins to feel discouraged. Then after exploring different tasks and adventures the Koala bear then begins to realize that there are certain things that he can do that Big can't, and he realizes thats how it will be forever. I think this book conveys a very good message to young readers. It shows that some people will have certain abilities to do things that other people will not be able to do, and that this fact of life is one that is okay. I have experienced this feeling many times in my life, but as I have grown older I have learned to accept it more, and accept that I have certain strengths that other people don't have and vice versa. ( )

It is my opinion that Shoshnan does a great job using modeling throughout this short story in order to show young readers how to learn any number of skills. As we are being taught to do in our lesson plans "I do, we do, you do." This is a common theme in this story. "If big can swing...then I can swing." "If big can jump...then I can jump." The central message of the book is modeling one's behavior according to those that you look up to. Although the story is a bit repetitive the author succeeds in accomplishing their objective. This is a simple, fun story of a son/daughter looking up and copying his/her mother or father. Like in life, as the story progresses the learner gains confidence in his/her own ability. ( )

I liked this book. I really liked the illustrations. I was thinking that if the book hadn't been illustrated, I never would have assumed that it was about a pair of bears. Still, the text was was nice on its own. Together, they made quite a pair. ( )

Wonderful book. I love the picture of the little koala bear hanging on to the tree branch. ( )