I'm generally not one to classify picture books as "sweet." But I'm going to make an exception. This is one of the sweetest little picture books I've read in a while. While looking for food one morning, bear discovers something "orange and long and pointy and had green bushy leaves at one end." A carrot! What a marvelous treat! Bear is so happy, he sings a song about it. The next day, there are two carrots, and Bear realizes that someone must be leaving those treats for him. And so a few days later he leaves some honeycomb for his new friend, who turns out to be a rabbit. The book ends with "And the two of them sat side by side in the clearing, singing songs as the sun went down." You'll want to share this one again and again."Reviewed by Lisa Coleman, Youth Services, Vernon Area Public Library I would have liked this story even better except I didn't like that the extra special gift was a chocolate bar. It didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story. Giving blueberries, carrots, flowers, honey comb seemed more appropriate. The oatmeal cookie (what other kind of cookie would have raisins?) was a little bit of a stretch (did the rabbit bake it?, take it from a picnic basket?), but I was more comfortable with that than the chocolate bar which the bear found in the garbage (even though I actually am a choclate fan myself.)
What do You think about Bear In Love (2012)?
A joyful pursuit of a secret friend.-- Monty K.
—Caitlyn
