CHAPTER 1
This is a story about a teddy bear named Jim-Bob. One Saturday,Jim-Bob started his morning reading a new book. The book was aboutall the different places in the world. Jim-Bob remembered learning ofthese places from school when his teacher told the class about differentcontinents on the Planet Earth. Since Jim-Bob had only lived in his house,he wondered who lived on these continents. He then decided to set outon an adventure to meet some new friends and see these new lands.
Jim-Bob started his travels in North America where he met a grizzlybear named Gus. Gus was quite a bit larger than Jim-Bob, but they hadthe same color of brown fur. At first, Jim-Bob was a little frightened ofGus because he was so big and made loud noises.
Jim-Bob watched Gus dig a hole for a few minutes and soon asked, "Whatare you doing digging that big hole?" Gus replied, "This is where I live,my home is called a den. I made it myself. This is where I rest and spendtime with my family." Jim-Bob was very excited to learn where Gus livedand quickly shared that he had a home too, but it looked a little different.Jim-Bob shared with Gus that his home had a bed with blankets, but healso goes there after school to spend time with family.
Jim-Bob's second stop was to South America. It was there he meta Spectacled Bear named Sam. Sam had beautiful black fur withlittle spots of white on her chest that looked like freckles. Samdidn't see Jim-Bob at first because she had climbed the highesttree and was up there eating some fruit.
When Jim-Bob spotted Sam, he quickly asked, "What are you doingup so high in that tree?" Sam replied, "I like to climb as high as Ican to see the beautiful land of South America. This is my home andI really like it." Jim-Bob was very excited to learn where Sam livedand quickly told her about the huge tree that was in his back yard.He said, "Sometimes I go in my tree house at my home too. It's reallyhigh and beautiful. I guess we both really like where we live becauseit is nice with pretty things to see."
Jim-Bob traveled to his continent, Antarctica. It was very cold andthere was snow in every direction he looked. He was happy he had on hissweater. Because everything was white with snow, he almost didn't seePaul the Polar Bear because he blended in with his white fur. Paul too wason vacation from the Arctic visiting the beautiful southern continent.
When Paul saw Jim-Bob he asked if he wanted to play. Jim-Bob didn'tknow what sort of games polar bears like to take part in, but said hewould like to play. "Do you want to play hide and go seek?", Jim-Bobasked. Jim-Bob thought that would be a fun game because Paul wouldbe difficult to find when it was Jim-Bob's turn to seek. Paul responded,"I want to go swimming." Jim-Bob had never learned to swim, but Paulsaid he would teach him. Since Jim-Bob loved learning and was a goodlistener, he soon was swimming well. After the swim, Jim-Bob thankedPaul for teaching him a new skill. Jim-Bob then taught Paul how toplay hide and go seek. Just as Jim-Bob predicted, Paul was very good athiding. They had a great time together. After taking turns hiding andseeking, Jim-Bob was ready to set out for his next adventure.
Jim-Bob traveled north from Antarctica to Africa where he wasimmediately greeted by an Atlas bear named Amara. When Jim-Bobfirst saw Amara, he thought she looked gloomy. As he approached her heasked, "You look like you feel sad, is there something I can do to help youfeel better?" Amara thanked Jim-Bob for his concern. She replied thatshe felt lonely. Amara was on her way to climb the Atlas Mountains toseek more Atlas bears like her to play. Jim-Bob told her that sometimeshe feels lonely too and that he would help her. They traveled up themountain together as a team. On the way up the mountain, Jim-Bobtold Amara that when he feels lonely, he asks a classmate if they wouldlike to play at recess or work on a puzzle together.
As they approached the top of the mountain, Amara was able to findmore Atlas bears. Amara's friends shared with Jim-Bob stories of Africaand what Amara was like when she was just an Atlas bear cub. Jim-Bobshared in return stories of his home and what he was like when he wasjust a teddy bear cub. Jim-Bob thanked Amara for the enjoyable journeyand the time they spent together. He left and was on his way back downthe mountain for his next quest.
