Bear and Bird: The Secret and Other Stories

Gr 1-2–Four stories demonstrate the funny consequences of missing out on important information. In “The List,” Bird is angry at a perceived slight by her friend Bear, so she concocts a list of the rudest names she can think of—egregious epithets like “Stinky Sock Muffin”—to leave for him. Unfortunately, she accidentally gives the list to a friend going to the store for her, then leaves her shopping list on Bear’s doorstep. Each story is equally tangled: Bear and Bird decide they can’t be friends because they have nothing in common except a distaste for zingleberry juice; Bear accidentally keeps a secret despite his record of being a blabbermouth; and a game of hide-and-seek turns into a pleasant day in a tree for the two friends when it turns out no one is looking for them. Bear and Bird are a case study for the comedy that arises from simple misunderstandings. Reconciliations between the friends are sincere but never twee. Digitally rendered textured watercolors in an abundance of cool colors create a sweet and charming forest world.