BERNARD THE BUILDER BEAR

A caring bear puts his own needs aside to help his friends and gets an unexpected surprise in return in Hendrick’s picture book.

Bernard the bear is good at building things—he even built his very own house in the woods. Now his home is in need of fixing up, but he gets interrupted by various friends asking for help before he can begin repairs. First, Chester the squirrel requests a new house since his current one leaks. Next, Chippie the chipmunk asks for a house to replace his flooded one. Then, Beaver asks Bernard for a new kitchen and bedroom. Lastly, Bernard offers to build a bigger home for a small field mouse. When Bernard is finally ready to begin his own repairs, he is met by all of his friends, who have come ready to repay the favor and fix up his house. Hendrick’s illustrations consist of soft colors and lines (with the standouts being the detailed pictures of each house Bernard builds, especially the field mouse’s towering abode); her narrative style is warm and simple (“The kitchen had lots of shelves for dishes and teapots”). There is some repetition in the text that occasionally snags, but Hendrick still manages to infuse the story with a calming, old-fashioned feel. Bernard’s genuinely noble character—and his friends’ reciprocity—make for an uplifting lesson on helping others.

A quiet, charming tale of hard work, selflessness, and the bonds of friendship.