LITTLE BROWN BEAR AND THE BUNDLE OF JOY

Dyer’s signature sunny, summery watercolors illustrate a fairly pedestrian take on the whole new-sibling genre, albeit with series regular Little Brown Bear. Mama and Papa Bear are busily painting walls pink and sewing polka-dot ruffles on curtains, and will only say to Little Brown Bear that they are getting ready for their little bundle of joy. LBB goes off to ask Owl about this mysterious bundle, and she shows him hers, a noisy little owlet. Horse shows LBB her little bundle of joy, but the foal’s asleep. Pig’s bundles are in plurals, and messy besides. Frog finally takes LBB to the park, where he can see many families with their babies, and LBB figures out that being an older sibling can be fun too. When he gets home, Mama and Papa Bear are already cuddling their little bundle of joy, and remind LBB that he is their “BIG bundle of joy!” All the animals wear greeting-card clothing and are beyond cheerful, although older sibs may wonder about the whole I-go-for-a-walk-and-a-baby-sister-appears business. (Picture book. 3-7)