Cover Reveal: A TEDDY BEAR FOR EMILY…And President Roosevelt, Too!

Teddy Bears! I’ll bet just about all of us have had at least one. And today, children still hold them close to their hearts – in times of joy and in moments of sadness or fear. But how and when did these cuddly stuffed toys come about? Great question…and the answer lies in Nancy Churnin’s upcoming picture book, A TEDDY BEAR FOR EMILY…And President Roosevelt, Too! And TODAY we are revealing the cover and posting pre-order links.

Didn’t illustrator Bethany Stancliffe do an incredible job on the cover? So engaging – it helps every child who sees it connect – and want to find out about that sweet stuffed bear. And lucky me…I just read the digital copy and the story captured my heart!
Here’s a little bit about the story:
Discover the fascinating true story of Jewish immigrants who played a key role in the creation of the beloved teddy bear, connecting their humble Brooklyn candy shop to the President of the United States.

Rose Katz and Morris Michtom grew up in Russia during a period of persecution against Jewish people. Hoping to find kindness and opportunity in another country, they emigrated to the United States, where they got married and opened a candy shop. In 1902, they read a newspaper article about President Theodore Roosevelt sparing a bear on a hunting trip. To the delight of their daughter, Emily, the Michtoms created a small, stuffed version of the animal and named it Teddy’s Bear. Before long, this cuddly symbol of one man’s act of compassion became a beloved toy that continues to delight children all over the world.

And here’s a little bit about author Nancy Churnin:
A native New Yorker, Nancy is a graduate of Harvard University, with a master’s from Columbia University. And she is a master at writing award-winning picture book biographies, plus many other genres. Nancy shares her wealth of knowledge at school visits, conference presentations, SCBWI programs, and Writing Barn classes. She lives in North Texas with her husband, a dog named Dog and two cantankerous cats. Learn more about Nancy at www.nancychurnin.com

And here’s a bit about illustrator Bethany Stancliffe:
Bethany is a Central-Washington-based artist who grew up in the Rockies, where she spent her time building tree forts, reading fairy tales, and filling up sketchbooks. Having had a spectrum of creative interests since childhood, she has found a home in illustration, where design and storytelling meet. Following in the footsteps of her parents, Bethany studied art and illustration at BYU-Idaho. She draws most of her inspiration from nature, films, and childhood adventures and has a love for interesting textures and patterns. When she’s not painting, she enjoys exploring outside with her son, Max, and creating original stories with her husband. You can connect with her on Instagram @BethanyJaydeIllustration.

And here’s a PRE-ORDER link to reserve your own copy so that you receive it as soon as it launches from Albert Whitman on September 5, 2024:

And please come back tomorrow when the blog EXPLODES with FOUR books that share a February 20th launch date…and one of them is mine.

Four beloved teddy bears in the Kirkfield home: from left to right – Honey Jo (bought for my daughter in 1980 when she was just a baby – and she still treasures it); Fisherman Bear (bought by my son for his dad in 1998 because my husband was an avid fly fisherman), little Smokey Bear (bought in 1985 when we took our kids to a Fire Prevention Week local firehouse tour), and Build-A-Bear (acquired last November at the NCTE conference). .

21 thoughts on “Cover Reveal: A TEDDY BEAR FOR EMILY…And President Roosevelt, Too!”

Congratulations on shedding light on another little known non-fiction gem, Nancy! I’m also intrigued by what the other 3 launching books might be 😉

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21 thoughts on “Cover Reveal: A TEDDY BEAR FOR EMILY…And President Roosevelt, Too!”

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