We probably all remember that very first visit to the dentist, or the day we passed through the school gates for the first time. For many children, these experiences can be very daunting, and the unknown can conjure up fears and anxieties. But giving children the opportunity to learn all about these experiences beforehand encourages them to lose their fears and look forward to these events that will soon be part of everyday life. This is the basic philosophy of the Fred Bear and Friends series. First experiences are presented as exciting and therefore not something that requires bravery. After all – a positive attitude can add so much fun to any activity.

CREATING THE BOOKS

Emma Randall (design), Lizzie Knowles (imagery) and Julia Adams (editorial) were determined to create books that showed the actual surroundings children would find themselves in during first experiences. Using teddy bears that were about the same size as a five-year-old child, they were able to set the locations into the right ‘perspective’. The majority of the shots in the series have been taken from the height of the bears’ heads, allowing for the most realistic view possible of the settings for young kids. The team were also very keen on taking the shots on location, which led to some very interesting photo sessions. Fred Bear “I think one of the most exciting moments in creating this series was when we had a photo shoot on a Virgin Atlantic plane. Checking in a bear at security and equipping him with in-flight entertainment on a huge jumbo jet was a surreal and unforgettable experience,” Emma recollects.

The decision to use Publishing Director Ruth Owen’s childhood teddy bears as the protagonists was made without hesitation – “these bears have a lot of character and add so much charm to the series,” says Lizzie.

The books were written by expert pre-school author Melanie Joyce, who says "I really enjoyed working on these books because they bring first concepts to children in a way that is both educational and fun. The text and pictures are easy to follow and give young children a first foot on the learning ladder."

Julia worked closely with Melanie, making sure that each of the first experiences was introduced as something that was fun and exciting, rather than something to be feared. She states “I am so pleased with the outcome of these books; and the fact that we were able to include some fun learning activities too just. rounds each of these titles off perfectly.”

We would love to hear your feedback on this new series. Email: feedback@ticktock.co.uk

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