Bear in Love

Bear awakens one morning to find something "orange and long and pointy" on the rock outside his cave, and wonders who left it for him. Even the youngest readers will recognize the gift as a carrot, and may even deduce it was left by a rabbit. But Bear is more romantic than worldly; he has to solve the mystery step-by-step by leaving a series of gifts for his secret admirer and then waiting to see who comes to claim them. Each step is described in short declarative sentences, ending in a joyous four-line Pooh-like song ("Sticky honey / Nice nice / Sticky honey / Nice nice"), and in the end it's Bear's songs that attract shy Bunny, recognized by Bear as "some cute little bear." Hillenbrand's soft earth-toned illustrations give us a sense of a cozy natural setting while his ragged bold lines give Bear a scruffy edge that keeps the story from being overly sweet. They are a perfect match for Pinkwater's text, which is child-friendly in its predictable and sprightly repetition, with just a tinge of adult humor now and then. ("‘Those things you first left,' the bear said. ‘Carrots,' the bunny said. ‘They are much favored by bunnies.'") All of these ingredients will make it perfect for reading aloud, either to groups or to an audience of one, again and again. kathleen t. horning