The Ill-Mannered Bear Cub

The parents-bears and other forest animals suffer because of a spoiled, ill-mannered little bear.

He simply drives his mother crazy.

Is that enough to make you think?

The little son went to visit a neighbor -

and bit the hostess.

And the neighbor's cubs

he knocked off a high branch.

Children perfectly understand the underlying message of this funny poem. They accept every line because these are real children's poems – serious and cheerful, without all the diminutive words that some writers use to soften their works when addressing children.

"The Ill-Mannered Little Bear" will make both moms and dads wonder whether they are like the parents-bears who have overpraised their son. No matter how much mischief he gets into, his parents do not scold him, but only pity and praise him. Since its creation, the poem has not only remained relevant but has also gained new relevance in modern society, where parents try not to set any limits for their children for fear of instilling unnecessary complexes in their growing child. Can "blind maternal love" therefore harm a child?

"I think that a children's poem is always addressed to an adult as well. A child grows every day, and the poems remain in their memory, and when they return to them, they understand them – anew" – Agniya Barto herself wrote.

However, the best thing about this wonderful children's book is, of course, Viktor Chizhikov's illustrations, full of sunlight, humor, and joy. A People's Artist of Russia and the creator of the Olympic Misha, he illustrated absolutely all the cheerful children's books – more than 100 works for children. Several generations of readers grew up with his drawings. Children love to look at the cheerful and funny characters inhabiting the bright pages. According to Chizhikov, the secret of such enduring popularity lies in this:

"A children's artist must be distinguished by absolute kindness," says the master of children's illustration. "A mean person can pass themselves off as a children's artist. Maybe they draw fur well. Everything of theirs is fluffy. But you can't fool the soul."