Gentle Men in GENTLE BEN

When I first read this fierce book about a boy and his bear, it grabbed at my heart in big ways. What I loved so deeply about it is that it's really about gentle MEN:  men who know how to teach and love and give with tenderness and true understanding. It touched me so much that I sniffled through several scenes, and not because of the bear.

Though the plot of Walt Morey's classic Gentle Ben is about a 13-year-old boy's desire to own a captive, mistreated bear named Ben, it's really about Mark's relationship with his dad.  He doesn't feel his dad's love and respect the way his dead brother had.  But as Mark honors his promise to take full responsibility for the bear, and his dad teaches him important skills, their relationship warms. Through this process, Mark gains a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man, and how grief and loss can lead to peace and new beginnings.

By the end, there's a fresh start for all—and Ben's not the only one who's gained freedom, dignity, and power.

We taught Gentle Ben to kids ages 7-12 in hands-on, memorable ways, as you can see right here. We hope you will too! With the older kids you can go a little deeper, addressing issues of sustainability, Alaskan fishing history, Morey's portrayal of Ellen, and so much more. But kids of ALL ages can understand the connections between loving and letting go that this book conveys so beautifully. Anyone can grasp that the idea of showing compassion and respect for others, and the importance of learning skills for self-empowerment, apply to Mark (and the rest of us) as well as to Ben.

Gentle Ben is a book we highly recommend for kids, women . . . and especially men.