I LOVE YOU AS BIG AS A RAINBOW

A caregiver bear helps their cub get creative in order to hold on to the beauty of a rainbow.

When it starts to rain on an otherwise sunny day, Small Bear is disappointed. But Big Bear is quick to point out a rainbow: “It’s not all bad.” When it fades, the duo collect things that will make their own rainbow, Big Bear pointing out how each is like their love for Small Bear. The red of the poppies is “strong and deep,” just like Big Bear’s love. The crunch of orange and yellow leaves reminds Big Bear that their love for Small Bear “fills my whole heart with laughter.” And boring green grass? “It will grow forever,” just like Big Bear’s love. But when their rainbow is complete, Small Bear is devastated at the bedraggled collection that fails to capture the rainbow’s wonder. On a beautiful spread highlighting each color, Big Bear points out that the two have a rainbow of love in their hearts that they can take anywhere. Torres’ cartoon scenes are full of small details to delight—an inchworm on a stem, a squirrel parasailing with a fall leaf, woodland creatures watching and joining in the fun—but most of all the very apparent love the bears have for one another.

Readers will likely want to gather their own natural rainbows, and caregivers should be ready with expressions of love.