WARM ALL OVER

A polar bear needs help warming up.

The hulking bear is soon joined by a white duck and a pale-skinned child clad in a dress. When the youngster politely asks how the bear is feeling, the animal—bare, though covered in fur—complains of the cold. A succession of suggestions follows. Exercise? “But…I’m still cold.” A steaming bath? Hot tea? Warm clothes? Blankets? A roaring fire? All prove ineffective, but they’re an essential build-up to the final offer: “How about a BIG hug? A really BIG hug.” Bingo! Bigdelou’s text is delightfully predictable; the charm and humor derive from the art: delicate but assured lines, with carefully calibrated use of color (mostly red), and a visual insistence on incongruity. The child sports exaggeratedly long braids that float along exuberantly, never hanging down. After being offered some tea, the huge bear carefully clutches one of many tiny teacups. The bear’s depiction nicely balances realism with anthropomorphism; it’s especially amusing to see the beast in the bathtub or performing calisthenics. The bear eventually dons a polka-dot jacket, red-striped socks, and a ridiculous yellow hat. For the “BIG hug,” the child’s arms can scarcely embrace more than the bear’s snout. And the duck occasionally surprises, offering assistance here and there. This one’s sure to be on repeat request over a cold winter.

A book practically guaranteed to precipitate many a big hug.