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BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FRIEND by Guido van Genechten

BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FRIEND

by Guido van Genechten & illustrated by Guido van Genechten

Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-60537-095-8
Publisher: Clavis

A bear's best friend is his Mommy, until he's old enough to find his own.

When Snowy the polar bear is a cub, he and his Mommy do everything together, playing and fishing and snuggling late at night in their cave. But one day, when he is old enough, Mommy tells Snowy that it's time to find a new friend. He tries a giant sea gull, a seal swimming under the ice and a long line of tottering penguins, none of whom prove to be a good match. The penguins all want to be Snowy's friend and begin a loud squabbling that drives Snowy away. The venerable walrus is almost just right—he lets Snowy slide down his back—but declares himself too old to be any fun for a young bear. Then, unexpectedly, when he's just resting against a snowdrift, Snowy is approached shyly by another young polar bear named Spotty. At the exact same moment, they both ask, "Would you like to be my friend?" And this, of course, is the perfect match. Van Genechten's characters look like stuffed animals, smiling and gentle. He uses backgrounds of baby blue and pink, dotted with flakes of snow. And Snowy is flocked, like wallpaper, for a little extra reader appeal.

It’s certainly accessible for very young children, but it carries an odd message: Should we be friends only with those exactly like us? (Picture book. 3-5)