Synopsis: The purpose of a good bedtime story is to help children make peace with whatever day they have had and to feel the world is a good and safe place, before they drift into sleep. This is what we have tried to embody in Home with the Nine Little Bears.

Juror comments: What a fun little short film; a bedtime story about a fictional family of nine young bear siblings. I love how these critters are anthropomorphized by giving them a home, complete with all the accoutrements you would expect in a human home, clothing on the older family members, and relationships with their extended family.

The story is a simple one about this fictional family of bears following their interactions with the world around them throughout the seasons. We watch them interact with their siblings, their parents and their community in a charming and sweet way.

The images in this film are stunning; the opening looks like a watercolor that has come to life; the bears are adorable, and each one is suitably named. I really love the voice of the narrator, which is soothing and clear. I like how the filmmaker makes use of simple graphic enhancements to grab our attention. The storyline is easy to relate to – well, if you have 8 siblings. We observe the lives of these adorable nine bears as they wander the forest meadow, the blueberry patches, the bubbling stream, and observe all that they experience in their natural environment. The motion of the bears is perfect, as they run and jump across the forest, dance around a tree, and fall asleep at the end. The locations are delightful, from the forest, to their charming home. We watch the seasons change and the behavior of the bears change with the seasons. The guitar–strumming background music suits the film; I particularly enjoyed the ending song which left me humming along after the film ended.

What I took away from this film is the simplicity and beauty of nature, and the critters that live in it, even fictional ones.

I give this 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 3 to 7. It would make a sweet addition for a youth film festival. Reviewed by Julie S., KIDS FIRST!