Good Luck Bear
PreS—This third book about a sweet little bear who is learning small, important lessons in heartwarming ways opens with the happy discovery of a three-leaf clover. Bear's worries begin when Mouse says, "If you find one with four leaves, it means that you're lucky." As Bear searches for one, the other animals tell him that he'll never be successful, making him feel "very unlucky." True to form, Foley brings the story to a surprising and uplifting conclusion that reinforces the joys of friendship. This gifted graphic artist has an inspired understanding of a young child's world. He isn't timid about employing almost identical pictures on each page: a mound of green grass, a sprinkling of clover, the small bear, and—in most cases–one other animal. The background is always a clean, bright white. Each opposing page, on which the text resides, has a different pastel shade. The most essential variations are the succession of featured critters and Bear's position and expression in response to each of them. The simplicity of the text, theme, and illustrations makes this an excellent choice for the very young.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.