HOW TO SHARE WITH A BEAR

Thomas makes a cozy cave that attracts a small bear.

Creative and clever, Thomas uses pillows, blankets, and seat cushions for his living room hideaway. But he needs a few more items to make it perfect. When he returns to the cave, he hears bumps and thumps and discovers a bear has taken up residence. He leaves a trail of blueberries to entice the bear to leave, and it works—temporarily. Thomas tries everything he can think of that might appeal to a bear to lure it away for good. A back scratcher, some bath toys, and some honey cereal all produce the same temporary results. When Thomas manages to get into the cave to read, the bear can’t squeeze in and starts to cry. Kind Thomas takes pity, builds a larger cave, and shares it with the bear, who readers finally see is actually his adoring little brother. Pinder employs accessible, descriptive language to lead Thomas to his generous conclusion, without becoming preachy or cloying. Young readers may be surprised at the identity of the bear, but there are several visual hints and lots of delightful details to be found in Graegin’s illustrations. Glowing shades of yellow, blue, and bear-brown on a soft, light sepia background surround satisfyingly legible text. At the conclusion, little ones are given simple instructions for building their own caves.

Tender and charming.