WARM CLOTHES FOR BEAR

A bear learns a valuable lesson: remember yourself when sharing.

Bear goes out on a snowy day and heeds Mom’s advice to bundle up in warm clothing. He joins in fun activities with various animal friends, for which he’s prepared, clothingwise—but they’re not. Generous pal that he is, Bear doffs his toasty duds, one by one, and shares them with his friends so they’ll feel comfortable. It doesn’t take long before Bear’s comrades are attired in sweater, earmuffs, scarf, mittens, etc., but he’s not, and he feels chilled. Bear returns home, where Mom encourages her sniffly son to snuggle under the bedcovers, gently praising him for being a good friend. Before long, the gang shows up with gifts, including edibles and some cold-weather gear, to help Bear feel better and expressing gratitude for his generosity. Then everyone troops outdoors, this time all properly attired. This gentle import from Belgium and the Netherlands is translated from Dutch and offers a warm message indeed. Narrated in first-person, present tense, it’s a twist on the sharing-is-caring trope. While there are many books on this theme, few convey the idea that sharing doesn’t necessarily entail completely ignoring one’s own needs. The colorful, appealing illustrations are sweet, lively, and full of snowy white space, and they reflect the friends’ camaraderie and good cheer. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.2-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 74.4% of actual size.)

A good-natured reminder not to forget oneself when being kind to others.