Customer Reviews
I loved Edith!!! 
2008-07-07
I read these books as a child and was never able to forget them! As an artist and photographer these books are a great inspiration to me. The fact that people are so disturbed by the books is not surprising to me. However, I consider these books as art and not just your basic childrens stories. Dare Wright was an artist. She just chose a different medium then some people might have to express her imagination and whatever else she felt like. Last time I checked that's what artists do.
Excellent 2008-06-26
I favorite of mine from when I was young and is now a favorite of my daughter. She treasures these books as I did. There's something magical about them...
If you loved "The Lonely Doll", then this is a must! 2008-03-26
Another wonderful picture storybook by Dare Wright. Both books will be saved for the next generation!
Run away story left feelings of abandonment and loneliness 
2007-04-23
I had not read this book since I was a kid. I remembered Edith ran away after getting spanked and her father didn't go out on the streets looking for her...I was devastated as a kid, but read it over and over...I thought, 'Edith lives with a family that leaves it to the police to do the work'...'they don't love her'.
I was whipped, so I didn't think the spanking was odd as a child. What I did think was Mr. Bear didn't care and that he didn't want to understand anything or accept his mistakes. I hated Mr Bear, as I did my father at the time. Because I hated being beaten, this book made me feel like there were other kids in my situation. So I loved it dearly. I understood feeling of abandonment and loneliness.
I could have been reading something that would be more inspiring and attempted to teach the same "tell the truth" lesson the other readers seem to have found--so this is not a great book is that is what you want to teach, in my opinion. I think it was very important in its time for the reasons I stated above. I would not give the book to my kids. I will not whip my kids.
I do love this series though for the photos. You just have to pick and choose the books to make sure they are still relevant and not dumb. I have written other reviews and recommend other books in this series.
Wonderful Story 2007-01-07
I agree wholeheartedly with A. Miller. Edith and Mr. Bear was one of my favorite books as a child. I loved it so much that a few years ago I searched for it and bought it. (Thank you Amazon!) As an adult I believe it's a very real depiction of a normal family life helping children realize that a parents love is unconditional and telling the truth makes for a happier life for all.
The beginning of the kinder, gentler Lonely Doll 
2006-03-13
Mr. Bear's expensive clock fascinates Edith. She just has to touch it. But when she does, it falls down with a crash. Unable to admit that she has broken it, Edith's guilty conscience makes her so unhappy that she can't even enjoy her birthday party. In fact, Edith feels so badly about lying to Mr. Bear that she contemplates running away. What happens next makes for a timeless story that will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to cover up the truth. Dare Wright's innovative black-and-white photographs make EDITH AND MR. BEAR as intriguing as it was when first published in 1964.
Realistic? Yes Disturbing? No 
2005-10-03
While the sad childhood of the author has recently been documented, I could not disagree more with some of the reviews submitted for these books. The inappropriate actions of the younger characters, Little Bear and Edith, are representative of the impulsive, sometimes "naughty" things that children do. In each case, the children feel remorse about their bad behavior, are disciplined (yes, sometimes spanked -- HORRORS!) but then the story ends with the parental figure (Mr. Bear) understanding and forgiving the children for their actions. Just the fact that so many people remember the photographs and characters so vividly (some 35+ years later), is a testament to the universal appeal of these stories. Perhaps the flaky parents of today could learn a few things from Mr. Bear. Children are children and they need to be called on their bad behavior, understand why it is wrong, and then quickly forgiven.
I've never forgotten Edith! 2005-04-03
My sister heard a feature on public radio with the author of the new biography of Dare Wright. She called me immediately asking if I remembered Edith, Mr. Bear, and Little Bear. Of course, I remembered! As a child I loved these books and discovered them at the public library. Among my two sisters and I, the books were checked out repeatedly. The photographs and stories are poignant and touch me even today.
Keep These Books Alive 2005-02-17
I read the Edith books when I was a child and stumbling upon it recently because I was reading a book that mentioned Dare Wright. Looking at it again, I see a lonely doll who was looking for friends. She meets the bears, father and son and all three become like family. Despite what happened in the author's life, she has the creativity to put this book together so little girls and the little girl in me can enjoy looking at the pictures without feeling disturbed. I am not very disturbed by these images. People have a tendency to overanalyze and become paranoid afterwards.
This is a classic and I hope to see some more of the author's books back in print.
BEWARE 
2004-11-27
This is NOT an appropriate children's book! As a child, I found this highly upsetting. It is no wonder the author was disturbed-see "The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll". It does not deserve one star.
