Bear Out There

April 22, 2019
Grant (Bear’s Scare) reunites curmudgeonly Bear and his sweet roommate, Spider, in this pleasant forest adventure. Outdoors-loving Spider, sporting a button cap, is eager to fly his new handmade kite. Bear, a homebody, prefers to stay inside to sip tea and clean (noticeably leaving Spider’s webs intact). “But plans have a way of changing,” and after Spider’s kite blows away, Bear agrees to help retrieve it, though not without grumbling about “yucky weeds” and “noisy twitter” out of doors. “Who would ever want to see such an unpleasant forest?” he asks amid an idyllic scene of blooms, waterfalls, and rose-colored butterflies. The story takes a turn when thick lines of slanting rain begin to justify Bear’s complaints, dampening Spider’s mood. Bear plans to head home, but after seeing his down-spirited friend perched on a rock, he relents, and the two continue their quest, camaraderie buoying their spirits as they search. Grant fans will recognize his affable charcoal, crayon, and ink animal portrayals; a jewel-toned palette gives the book an inviting feel. The story resonates with timely themes of tolerance, friendship, and persistence in the face of tealessness. Ages 3–6.

April 1, 2019
A persnickety, stay-at-home bear is pushed beyond his comfort level by a bold and creative arachnid. Spider has made a new kite, and he begs his friend Bear to come outside and play. Bear has other plans, namely "a tidy day at the house, followed by a nice cup of tea in his cozy chair." But the wind snatches the kite away from Spider, so Bear grudgingly agrees to help Spider find it. Everything in the forest that delights Spider is anathema to Bear. He does not like the "filthy ground," the "itchy plants," and the "pesky bugs all around" (Spider especially likes them). While Bear grumbles, Spider enjoys all the new sights and sounds of the forest. Eventually both friends are exhausted and deterred by the weather, which has turned nasty. They still haven't found the kite. Just as they are about to give up, they spy the kite high up in a tree. Finally Bear gets his cup of tea, and the friends compromise by flying two kites comfortably from chairs in the garden. Grant's soft, muted crayon-and-ink illustrations, full of rounded shapes, complement the warm comforting tone of the story, and the text is clearly laid out and should be easily read by beginning readers as well as grown-ups. Spider is adorable, composed of two ocher globes with stubby, unthreatening legs, wide eyes, and a button hat. A cozy tale of friendship and compromise between two very different creatures. (Picture book. 3-5)

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May 17, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-Spider is eager to fly his homemade kite out in the yard with his friend Bear. The problem is that Bear prefers the indoors followed by a comforting cup of tea in his cozy chair. Spider, on the other hand, loves the warm sun, fresh breeze, and delectable bugs found outdoors. When Spider's kite flies away, Bear agrees to help him find it because that is what good friends do. Grant's story is a follow-up to the popular Bear's Scare, which first introduced Spider. The illustrations are rendered in charcoal and crayon in soft, muted colors. Bear is willing to set aside his own personal desires for the best interests of his friend. Children will absorb the valuable message that compromise is essential to any good friendship, and when the going gets tough, buddies still stick together. VERDICT Fans of Bear's Scare will enjoy this next installment, and note that good friendships are worth the effort.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

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