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PRESCHOOL
Stutzman, Jonathan

Bear Is a Bear

48 pp. | HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray | September, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-0-06288-051-2 $18.99
(2) PS Illustrated by Dan Santat. "Bear is a bear hopeful and shy. Bear is a bear full of love." The large furry creature becomes a baby girl's best friend, playing all sorts of roles (as a "tissue," "soft, warm pillow," etc.). Always, however, "Bear is a bear full of love." As the story unfolds the girl grows older, until finally Bear, who had been a "brave protector" when she was scared and a "piece of home" she took to college, becomes a "memory" packed away in a storage chest. But fear not, this isn't a sad tale, as eventually Bear is introduced to the next generation: a new little-girl playmate. Stutzman's (Santa Baby, rev. 11/20) declarative sentences are short and purposely repetitive, packed with meaning, which Santat (2015 Caldecott winner for The Adventures of Beekle) explores through the loving relationship between the characters in his expressive watercolor, pencil, and Photoshop illustrations. The brevity of the text allows for visual creativity, especially with humorous lines such as "Bear is a fancy lady" (accessorizing for a tea party, of course) or more serious moments (Bear, as a "scholar," sits quietly on a dorm bed as the girl works at her desk late at night). That Santat draws the creature throughout as a real bear makes the impact of the final surprise reveal all the sweeter, and upon rereading reinforces an appreciation for the ­larger-than-life presence favorite toys can have in our lives.
Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

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