Bear Feels Scared
PreSchool-Grade 1—This likable character and his animal friends are back in one of their best outings sinceBear Snores On(S & S, 2002). While walking in the woods, Bear gets lost, and the other critters begin to worry about him. They form a search party, find their friend, and return to the lair to cuddle up and fall asleep, and finally, "the bear feels safe." Wilson's rhyming text moves along at a steady clip, with only the smallest missteps in meter, and the repeated refrain begs for audience participation. Chapman's acrylic illustrations perfectly mesh realism with emotional expression; the characters show their concern for Bear, whose fear is almost palpable. The combination of full-bleed spreads, single-page paintings, and smaller insets keeps the story flowing and encourages page turns. Bear's cozy den, painted in warm oranges and browns, contrasts effectively with the outdoor scenes, done in blacks, blues, and grays. The reassuring story is simple, but speaks to children's fears and the safety they find with the people who care about them, creating a comforting and accessible forum for discussion. With its large, richly colored illustrations, this book will work equally well one-on-one or in storytime, and listeners are sure to request repeated readings.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.