Reading these three picture books featuring bear Sam, a child of Amy Hurst and Anita Jielang, will delight children and adults alike. While presented as fairy tales, the stories are actually about everyday parent-child moments, centered solely on the relationship between Sam and his mother.
The first book, “Goodnight, Kiss,” (first published in 2001), tells the story of a common bedtime ritual: Little Bear Sam, it’s time for bed, but he keeps saying he’s not ready yet and is still waiting, but he won’t say what he’s waiting for. Mother Bear, whether genuinely confused or just pretending, reads her a bedtime story, tucks her in, tucks Sam’s stuffed friends in, and gives him some warm milk. But Sam still refuses to sleep, anxiously saying, “You know what I’m doing.” Mother Bear thinks and thinks, and finally remembers…
The second book, “Sam, Are You Feeling Sick?” (first published in 2002), deals with a rather unusual yet common situation: a sick baby who refuses to take medicine! Just before bed, on a cold night on quiet May Street, Sam, having completed his bedtime ritual, suddenly develops a cough. His mother must give him syrup before he can fall asleep, but the clever little Sam always finds excuses to refuse. What to do? After several attempts, his patient and resourceful mother finally comes up with a solution. Finally, they cuddle by the fire, waiting together…
The third book, “Sam, You Can Do It” (first published in 2003), tells the story of a snowy morning on May Street, where little Sam and his mother bake and deliver cakes to their neighbors. The most interesting part of the story is that his mother parks her car on the road outside the neighbors’ homes, leaving Sam to walk through the deep snow alone to deliver the cakes, one by one, to their doorsteps (as surprises). Sam succeeds! In the end, he discovers two cakes left—surprises for his mother and himself!
Despite being three simple stories, the creative process took three years. Set in a quiet, small-town neighborhood called May Street, the stories unfold during the gradually cooling autumn and winter seasons. From dark, windswept nights scattering fallen leaves to chilly nights about to see the first snowfall, and finally to mornings thick with snow, the author seems to be hinting at a certain chronological progression. Little Sam truly grows over the three books, from his daily demands for kisses (the promise of love), to his courage sparked by minor illnesses, to his enthusiastic participation in and independent completion of appropriate community tasks—readers of all ages will surely exclaim, “Well, Sam has grown up!” Yet, the narrative is cleverly repetitive, maintaining a similar structure and rhythm amidst the changes. For example, the story always begins on May Street and then moves to Sam’s home. After several repeated, progressive interactions, it inevitably returns to the embrace of mother and child, before returning to the May Street exterior. Starting from the second book, at the end of the story, Mother Bear tells Sam the story of “Little Bear Called Sam”. This intimate review game is not only full of the promise of love, but also contains appreciation and affirmation that makes children particularly proud.
The dedications in these three books are particularly noteworthy; they all involve “Sam,” with phrases like “You know why (dedicated to you)” or “To Sam and Kate and those warm, cozy evenings.” Or, “To Sam. Remember the day we walked through the deep snow on Broadway?” This Sam is author Amy Hurst’s son, and Kate is her daughter. The stories of Bear Sam are largely based on memories of growing up with her son Sam. Amy was already over 50 when she wrote these books, and her son Sam was already an adult.
Born in 1950, Amy is a prominent contemporary American children’s book writer, writing both picture books and children’s novels. Her works have won numerous awards, the most notable of which is the 1997 Greenaway Medal for “Ride the Waves,” which tells the story of Jesse, an Eastern European Jewish girl who immigrates to the United States. Although the Greenaway Medal was primarily awarded to illustrator P.J. Lynch, the story’s resonant and captivating impact on readers is undoubtedly due to the author’s contributions. Amy is adept at focusing on family relationships through the lens of everyday life. An American children’s book critic’s overall assessment of her work is: “She has produced a significant body of work that reflects a childhood perspective on family, presenting universal truths from the concrete details of life.”
Amy is a writer who places a special emphasis on observation and accumulation. She describes her method of gathering material as “detective work,” constantly curiously “prying” into others’ secrets, often merely the trivialities of life. These three stories about Sam the Bear clearly stem from her explorations of her own life with her children. She didn’t write them down when her son was young, but years later, when he had grown up, she couldn’t help but revisit those wonderful times together. Each scene from the past is a fleeting moment, but for this eyewitness and “author detective,” they are indelible, enduring, and heartwarming memories.
Coincidentally, the illustrator for this book is also a mother of three, Anita Jeron from the UK. Does that name ring a bell? Yes, she’s the illustrator of the super-bestselling “Guess How Much I Love You.” However, readers might find the illustration style of this book a bit strange: it seems completely different! A closer look reveals that the gestures and expressions of the little bear interacting with his mother and with the little and big rabbits share a common thread, but the painting techniques of the two books are indeed quite different. “Guess How Much I Love You” uses soft watercolors for a more tranquil and romantic feel, while the stories of little bear Sam are painted with rich acrylic paint, giving them a touch of oil painting. While still elegant, the brushstrokes are bolder and more rugged, conveying a stronger and more passionate sense of emotion.
Anita, born in 1965, loved drawing and animals from a young age. Unsure of her future career, she tried various jobs, including working in a talcum powder and potato chip factory, as a shop assistant, and as a dog keeper at a kennel. Encouraged by her husband, a paleontologist, she enrolled in university to study illustration. Unexpectedly, before graduation, she was discovered by the renowned Walker Book Company and embarked on a career in children’s book illustration. The unexpected success of “Guess How Much I Love You” brought her immense fame and generous royalties, but it didn’t go to her head. She continued to explore new possibilities, including exploring new paths in illustration and expanding into design. She declined personal work and maintained a relaxed pace, dedicating herself to enjoying a peaceful family life. Today, the family lives in a semi-secluded state in Northern Ireland.
Anita’s illustrations are the perfect fit to illustrate the family values embodied in the stories of Little Sam Bear. Anita and Amy share a deeply sympathetic understanding of family, and both mothers deeply relish the delicate yet playful aspects of parent-child life. A careful examination of the details in the text and illustrations reveals that Mother Bear plays games with Little Sam almost constantly. Kissing him goodnight is a game, teasing him to take his medicine is another, and taking him out to surprise the neighbors (and ultimately himself) is also a game. These three seemingly everyday, simple stories are surprisingly engaging to read because they’re all about playing games. Just imagine, if our daily interactions with our children were characterized by games, with minimal lectures, wouldn’t our children’s development be more successful, and would our daily lives be more enjoyable?
As a mother of three, Anita understands children well. Perhaps even having her own children, she delights in burying playful details within the illustrated world. Beyond the central storyline that runs through all three books, there’s a playful little fox, sometimes chasing leaves, sometimes playing with snowballs, sometimes seemingly building a snowman, and sometimes even befriending birds and mice. The little mouse scurrying around the room in “Goodnight, Kiss” reminds me of the mouse in “Goodnight, Moon.” Both mice have their own stories, don’t they? What role does this little mouse, who also appears throughout all three books, play in the story?
Regarding details like these in the pictures, it’s recommended not to actively point them out to children during parent-child reading. Adults can read more slowly, turning the pages a bit slower, and children will likely quickly discover them. Once they’ve discovered and enjoyed their surprise, ask them about “The Story of the Little Fox” or “The Story of the Little Mouse.” They’ll undoubtedly be able to create stories just as engaging as Sam the Bear’s… This, of course, is the heartfelt hope of both the author and the illustrator.
Written in Beijing on September 4, 2020
