Summer Fun's Around the Bend When Bear Makes a Brand-New Friend

I first came upon Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman's Bear books a couple years ago when I saw a selection of them being sold for five dollars a piece as part of a pre-Christmas Kohl's Cares for Kids promotion. I've enjoyed the wintry Bear Snores On and Bear Stays Up for Christmas and the springish Bear Wants More, and my most recent trip to the library yielded last year's Bear's New Friend, which brings the beloved Bear and his ensemble of woodland companions together again for a sun-soaked summery story with just a hint of mystery.

The tale begins, as usual, in Bear's den. On this occasion, Bear is wide awake, and with the verdant flower-flecked grass just inches away, it's little wonder he feels the urge to emerge from his home for some outdoor activity. He's got plenty of friends in the forest, so he's sure he won't be short on playmates, but his curiosity is aroused when he hears a noise nearby. "And the bear asks, 'Who?'" This is the refrain that is repeated throughout the book, each time Bear sees or hears evidence of an unfamiliar, reclusive creature. The mystery deepens as his friends join him one by one, and it persists until nearly the end of the book, when the stranger reveals himself.

Chapman's acrylic illustrations are as adorable as ever. Shaggy Bear, dainty Mouse, wise Badger, timid Mole... the furry friends are all smiles, except when they're puzzling over the strange circumstances. The book is very heavy on the green tones, with grass and leaves everywhere in a variety of shades. We also see a lot of blue: the cloudless sky, several butterflies, the swimming hole. The liberal use of these colors gives the book a rich, vibrant feel.

Wilson's rhymes, meanwhile, usually four lines to a page, are marked by simple words and irresistible cadence: "Bear calls, 'Is that Mouse / who hides in the tree?' / But Mouse scurries up / and squeaks, 'It's not me!'" As the interrogative refrain repeats throughout the book, the typeface on this sentence becomes larger and larger, reflecting Bear's growing curiosity and his frustration that his friendly overtures are evidently being rejected.

Bear's New Friend is a fine addition to the collection of Wilson / Chapman collaborations. Artful and endearing, it allows children to visit once more with these woodland friends while encouraging them not to overlook potential playmates just because they might be a little shy.