FICTION

The Curious Cares of Bears

by Douglas FLORIAN
illus. by Sonia Sánchez. 32p. little bee. Aug. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781499804621.
COPY ISBN
PreS-K—The creators of The Wonderful Habits of Rabbits delve into the ursine world, inviting readers to come along and observe the bears throughout the seasons. The "cares of bears" range from fairly realistic (gathering honey, swimming, hibernating) to "curious indeed"—riding mountain bikes, partying, and singing songs around a campfire. Sánchez's spirited illustrations lift Florian's serviceable rhymes. Her bears are delightfully expressive and clearly enjoying their varied activities, and her spreads are drawn with energetic lines and vibrant colors. Sharp-eyed readers will note details such as butterflies alighting on a bear's derriere, or a few bunny visitors in the background of an autumnal spread.
VERDICT A silly romp. Not a must-buy, but a fun read-aloud to add to collections looking to update their bear-themed selections.
Reviewed by Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY
A brief rhyming text about bears' activities ranges from accurate (hibernation and eating honey and berries) to fanciful (teasing siblings and dancing in a conga line). The rhymes are occasionally clunky ("According to legend bears care to go hiking / fifty-five miles or more, then mountain biking"), but the illustrations make up for this with plenty of energy and humor.
 , Jul 01, 2017

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