A Fall Day for Bear

PreS-Gr 2--Bear and Mouse are an epic pair, sitting comfortably with other time-honored children's book friendships, like Frog and Toad. The two charming characters tenderly care about each other. Kids are sure to giggle as Bear tries to cheer up a deliciously dramatic Mouse, who refuses to find beauty in the grim fall weather. With simple sentences and short words, this fun story works as a read-aloud or to engage emerging readers. The endearing, droopy illustration style depicts Bear and Mouse with pointy noses and tiny eyes that sparkle with personality. Denton uses watery variations with the color, finds emotion in minimal lines, and seems to delight in depicting just how evocative the simplest forms can be. VERDICT A perfect rainy-day read showcasing the joys of solid friendship.

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A cozy tale of pals weathering more than the weather.

Fitting right in with storytime themes such as fall, bird migration, and friendship, this appealing picture book, the fifth in the Bear and Mouse series, is well paced, amusing, and sure to charm both loyal fans and children meeting these lovable characters for the first time. Denton's wonderfully expressive artwork, created with ink, watercolor, and gouache, captures the characters' emotions as well as the humor of the narrative, the beauty of the season, and the double meaning of fall.