THE VERY CRANKY BEAR

How do you deal with a very cranky bear?

“In the Jingle Jangle Jungle on a cold and rainy day, / four little friends found a perfect place to play.” Moose, Lion, Zebra and Sheep hunker down out of the cold rain to play a hand or two of cards…but they aren’t alone in the dim cave. There’s a big cranky bear who promptly roars at them and chases them away. Back out in the rain, the friends speculate as to why Bear is so cranky. Zebra thinks he needs stripes. Moose thinks he needs antlers. Lion’s sure he needs a mane. Sheep isn’t sure. “So Zebra fetched a can of mud, and Lion, some grass of gold. / Moose got two big branches, and Sheep…well, Sheep got cold.” The three friends are in the cave long enough to make Sheep think they’ve been eaten, but they’ve just given Bear a makeover he’s none too happy about. Bear roars about only wanting a quiet place to sleep…and Sheep has just the stuff—er, fluff: She makes him a pillow from some of her wool. Bland’s silly jungle tale, published in his native Australia in 2008, will have young listeners giggling, particularly once Bear’s all dolled up. Older listeners might wonder why the other animals are so pudgy and cute compared to Bear (especially Lion).

Good, not-so-cranky fun.