Bear and his toy friends are on a picnic when Bear wanders off alone in the woods, falls down a vertical bank, and can't get back up. Fortunately, a robin sees his plight and goes to get Bear's friends, who are able--by working together--to rescue him. The appeal here is similar to that of the Old Bear stories by Jane Hissey, but Maris' illustrations are superior: his toys are vigorous chacters, not just sentimental; his idyllic forest has a real sense of place; and his careful design carries the eye forward. The spare text is appropriate for lap-sitters or preschool groups as well as beginning readers.
