IF YOU WERE A PANDA BEAR

A global array of bears parade by in this delightful story for the very young.

Panda bears who eat bamboo and take long naps lead off. They are followed by bears of the sloth, polar, black, moon, sun, grizzly and spectacled variety. And the final entry is, of course, every child’s favorite: smiling teddy bears nestled together and looking very much like the bears on the previous pages. The Minors previously collaborated on If You Were a Penguin (2009). Here, their verse is just as breezy and dotted with occasional bits of information. “If you were a sun bear, / You’d have a looooooooong tongue / to help you get honey. / Be careful—don’t get stung!” The expansive double-page spreads show the bears in their natural settings; a polar bear stares into the icy water, and a black bear snoozes on a tree limb. The textured brush strokes create realistic and expressive images, while playful and colorful variations in the type add to the appeal.

A lovely title to engage the imaginations and interest of budding animal enthusiasts.