One day Bear finds a small box, “the greatest thing ever,” and sets out to give it to Mouse, certain he will love it. Along the way, Monkey, Owl, Fox, Elephant, Squirrel and Bunny are not impressed and say so individually. A bit shot down in his confidence, Bear ponders the value of his gift but is reassured when Mouse approaches, crawls into the box and proclaims, “It’s the greatest thing ever!” The simplicity of this pattern book is offset by the reflective theme of friendship and self-esteem. Little ones will undoubtedly be able to identify with Bear’s emotions as they watch him move from benevolent joy to uncertainty and doubt and then to gleeful satisfaction. Watercolor animal figures, outlined in strong black lines and set mostly against a white background, distinctly convey the dénouement. Halfway through the story, Foley’s use of a single darker brown background effectively portrays Bear’s declining mood and doubt. A smooth union of words and art to illustrate an important message. (Picture book. 3-5)
