Baby Bear Counts One

The curious young bear from Baby Bear Sees Blue (rev. 3/12) is once again exploring his world with his mother, and in this multiple-concept book (counting/animal sounds/seasons) he learns that, in preparation for winter, woodpeckers hunt for beetles, squirrels gather acorns, deer and crows munch on sweet corn, etc. The structure is also the same as the first book: one double-page spread sets up Baby Bear's encounter ("BUZZZZZZZZZZZ! BUZZZZZZZZZZZ! BUZZZZZZZZZZZ! 'Who is mad at me, Mama?' asks Baby Bear. 'Those are the bees,' says Mama, 'storing up honey before winter comes'"). The following spread pauses for Baby Bear to savor the experience -- and, this time, count the number of featured creatures ("Baby Bear counts 7"). Wolff's art (hand-colored linoleum blocks) is glorious, capturing the withered cornstalks, brown leaves, and fallen apples of autumn while also conveying the busyness and vibrancy of the season. Very young children may find the counting aspect too difficult, as some animals are shown only partially (and one spread strays from the pattern by featuring two species to be counted), but slightly older or more sophisticated readers may relish the challenge. And the loving bond between Baby Bear and his mama is as secure and comforting as ever, with the cozy ending seeing the two curled up together in their den as the first snowflakes of winter fall, "too many to count." martha v. parravano