It's A Bright World To Feel Lost In

I am having trouble finding words for this review. I have recently re-discovered some of the joy of collecting toys. This book is a sweet reminder of the lifecycle of teddybears and toys. During the Covid Pandemic of 2020 we could all use a bit more of our soft friends.

This isn't a story book, but the very simple text is appropriate for teddy bear enthusiasts of all ages. It is a picture book, illustrated with photos of different bears featured in different parts of the book. Isolation in the main theme, several pages focus on loss, or feeling lost—so with a young child, I'd emphasize the pages about having someone to come home to, not being afraid to explore, love, and being there for others. This is a good little book to give to older teddy bear collectors, if their house is too full for more bears (like mine!)

I’ve been in a reading rut during the past few months, and Mawson is just the dose of cuteness I needed to help pull me out. This book is a little work of art. If you love bears and cute heartwarming stories, you’ll love Mawson.

Read and then bought for a couple of sweet little boys to read. Photographs were so cute.

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and his friend Mark. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In is a fascinating and valuable little book. At first glance the bright pictures and simple, large print words seem to place the book in young-child reading territory, but as the meaning of the words sink in you realise that these are more appropriate sentiments for adult understanding. Mawson ponders the life of a teddy bear from waiting to be chosen by that beloved someone, to the joys of love and adventure, to the emptiness as your loved one grows away from you, the quiet fulfilment to be found within yourself, and finally the hope of love again. Obviously these lessons apply to us humans who have maybe loved and lost, or whose little bears have vacated for their own dens. For a little book there is a large emotional impact here, which reverses the sentiments in the title. First the reader is taken through the lows of feeling lost, then reminded of all the love and beauty still there to be found in this ‘Bright World’. This is a perfect little gift for close friends, family or for yourself, just as a reminder that you are loved and not alone. When you’re feeling most crumpled you can almost hear the aching sound of being searched for. – Mawson, It’s A Bright World To Feel Lost In Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. We all had that one special toy, that one stuffed animal that was always a source of comfort, friendship and love when we were children. In author Mawson Bear's book It's A Bright World To Feel Lost In, adults and children alike can reconnect with that special connection we all shared with that special toy in our lives, and remember what it's like to search for love and your place in the world. Here's the synopsis: Are you feeling a little lost? Got that ‘left in the spare room’ emptiness about you? Mawson does too. He sits atop his cushion and ponders about baffling things. The world is a funny place for a curious teddy bear to live in. Friends approach him about their own dilemmas. They seek instant answers that will make everything all right. Mawson does his best. But after he ponders deeply, most things remain for him just as baffling as they were before. Take a moment out of your day to pawse with him and explore the world. For the many frazzled readers who feel, secretly, much the same, he offers the comfort that the world is a bright place to be. This book has a surprising emotional pull for adults that you wouldn't expect just looking at this book's cover. While it features a stuffed animal bear as the narrator, the story takes a wonderful journey of self discovery as we explore what it means to be needed and loved. It highlights the simplistic yet care free nature of being a child, and the painful process of growing up. The theme of the story reminds me a lot of the overall theme of Disney and Pixar's Toy Story franchise. It's the story of growing up, and finding a way to still be wanted or needed in the world. Overall this was a wonderful story. Filled with heart, emotion and a unique picture book style with photographs in lieu of artwork. The story felt personal, emotional and incredibly powerful. If you haven't yet be sure to pick up your copy of Mawson Bear's It's A Bright World to Feel Lost In today!

Mawson has penned a simple and moving tale of love and devotion, of belonging and losing the one you were born to protect. Brief text explains charming and evocative photographs of Mawson and his friends. Mawson is the most ponderous and baffled of bears. He tries to make sense of the world around him, but is challenged at every turn. Each page contains a message to dwell on and there is a satisfying twist at the end. The shift in perspective as a loveable teddy bear reflects on how he needs to be loved stimulates a different way of viewing the world, encouraging us to put ourselves in the bear's shoes. When we do, we are suddenly faced with our own selfishness and lack of empathy. Sure, Mawson is just a bear, a fluffy toy, and not a real animate being, or is he? Isn't he a metaphor for all those living creatures we neglect? And what about those times when we feel neglected? Where do we turn? It's a Bright World is a meditation on the nature of love, missing, grieving, solace and healing. The story contains a powerful message: those who provide comfort are too often taken for granted. It is possible to read this little book in about ten minutes, but then, you might find yourself dipping back in, again and again, leaving your copy on the coffee table to return to at whim. It's a Bright World is that sort of book.

I follow Mawson Bear on Twitter and bought this as a gift for a loved one on a special occasion. I expected it to be sweet and funny, and that would have been more than enough, but it is so much more. Full of charm and wisdom, and surprisingly poignant at times, this is a book to return to over and over for comfort, innocent pleasure, and a reminder of what matters in this harsh world of ours. Thank you Mawson, and the other bears who inspired this delightful little book xx

Reading this book is like receiving a great big hug of reassurance and a huge hot chocolate with fluffy marshmallows. It is a beautifully presented picture books for adults and it comforts while also gently nudging readers to value the ‘bright world’ out there. At one level, the book is a great gift for a friend, or even a gift for yourself. Beneath the surface, this book reaches out to people who may be suffering with mental health issues and it could be used in therapy. This book made me smile! Clever presentation of a simple, heart-warming message for us all. Well done to the author for reaching out.

Great book, well written and extremely engaging. Bonus it is all about bears!!!! Marvellous !!!!!!!