Description
Reviews
“Harbridge brings the difficult concept of an invisible creator down to a kid level by putting God in the creations. Dorado’s brilliant colors and a point of view that changes from page to page will keep little listeners poring over the pages. And if the words and pictures inspire the next generation to protect the environment fashioned for the enjoyment and well-being of all God’s creations? All the better.” —Kirkus Reviews, December 2024
“The book is a lovely read for young children that both introduces the idea of God’s omnipresence and teaches curiosity and love for the natural world. Parents of toddlers may find themselves answering as many questions about what worms eat and caterpillars’ metamorphosis into butterflies as they do questions about whether God is in the tree outside their window. Regardless of which direction the relentless “why” questions go, though, they’ll be picking up on an essential truth: that the world around them is infused with divine love, wonder, and purpose.” —U.S. Catholic, July 2025
“Families who embrace a more progressive theology will absolutely want to add this book to your bookshelf. Harbridge’s rhythmic language sweetly moves across creation, imagining God’s presence and intentional design in each natural wonder.” —Englewood Review of Books, May 2025
“The reader will delight in the philosophical questions posed on each page and the colorful illustrations. The queries challenge the reader to imagine the logical creation path and appreciate the beauty of the symbiotic relationship found in our natural world.” —Books Uplift, March 2025
News & Links Related to If God Were a Great Big Bear
- Conference: Paul Harbridge Presents ‘If God Were A Great Big Bear’ at the National Faith + Climate Forum 2025
- Book Reviews: Goodreads
About the Illustrator: Marta Dorado
Marta Dorado was born in Gijón (Asturias, Spain) in 1989 and raised in a nearby village. She later moved to Pamplona to attend University, where she still lives. After graduating in 2014 with an HND in Graphic Design, Marta started a career as a graphic designer in the advertising industry while developing her skills as an illustrator in her spare time. She also became a self-tough motion graphics animator, and in 2018, she gets a job in a marketing agency in the role of illustrator and animator. In 2020 she decides to establish herself as a full-time freelance illustrator. Her childhood, surrounded by nature and close to the sea, strongly influences Marta’s work. She’s also inspired by music (classic and folk), beauty, and magic. Marta is an avid learner who is always delving into her varied interests (from learning to sew to financial education or the Stoics’ philosophy.