Helping us bear lockdown’s trials
Just a year ago we were in level 4 lockdown and teddy bears were popping up in everyone’s windows to raise the spirits of Kiwis, particularly children.
Singer-songwriter June Pitmanhayes reminds us of that heartwarming teddy bear adventure with this lovely book, written in both Ma¯ori and English.
We asked June some questions:
Tell us a little about
There’s a Bear in the Window? There’s a Bear in the Window is the result of chronic writer’s block. I’d been given a brief to consider writing to, which was more along the lines of observing the changes that were happening within nature as a result of the throb of everyday human life being forced to a standstill by 2020’s Covid-19 lockdown. No matter what creative avenue I went down, I came to a dead end. During the early hours of one very wet wintery morning these words crossed my mind — “Don’t give up! Try a different approach.” I listened, and this book is the end result. What inspired you to write the book? I grabbed my laptop, turned it on and typed into Google “What made children in New Zealand smile during lockdown?” Several responses popped up, but the one that stood out the most was The Bear in the Window bear hunt that New Zealanders got completely engaged in. Bears were popping up everywhere. Adults and children were well into it, and having fun despite Covid-19 lurking around. This is what I wanted to write! A book about fun in the face of Covid-19. Aue! The cure to my writer’s block was so incredibly simple! All I had to do was step out of my own way, look at things from a different view point, and write! What was the process with the illustrator, Minky Stapleton to create this book?
The idea is to let the illustrator create by sharing just enough of my creative writing process, to assist her in formulating her own perspectives. We seem to reach common ground very easily which always amazes me.
What research was involved?
The media was active in sharing daily community stories where bears were involved, keeping everyone updated on changes taking place all around — birdsong back in the cities, animals coming close to town, mountains, seas and skies cleaner, clearer, brighter, etc. Social distancing street parties, exercise routines, ex-pat New Zealanders yearning to be home with their families, and so on. And bears do exude that “warm comfort of home” feeling regardless of how young or old we are. So little research was needed.
What do you hope children will take away from the book after reading?
This book opens up opportunities for children to explore their powers of observation, increase awareness, encouragement to see beyond the immediately visible, notice detail, be inquisitive, ask questions, seek answers, and most of all use their imagination.