While holding her teddy bear aloft, one pig-tailed girl ponders, “I wonder what he does all day when I am off at school.” In order to find out, she stays home and spies on him, emphatically stating the book’s refrain: “You wait. I’m gonna catch you!” She pretends her eyes are closed and watches him. She sits on a tree outside and peers in through her window. She hides behind the door, but no matter what she tries, she can’t catch the bear in action. What she doesn’t know, but the illustrations show, is that because she’s so busy watching teddy, she’s missing what the other toys are doing. A pair of stuffed mice plays instruments, and a rag doll moves about quite freely. Finally the youngster tempts the bear with his favorite food. Does it work? Well, sort of. The radiant art bursts with colors like cherry red, periwinkle blue, and sunshine yellow. This will tickle the imagination of any youngster who’s ever wondered what toys are up to when unobserved. (Picture book. 3-6)
