School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-With childlike wonder, a young bear asks questions about the natural world, such as "Why does the sun come and light up the day?" A big bear patiently answers: "To wake you from sleep so you come out to play." As the pair enjoy a picnic in the woods, they reflect upon why the path winds ("To take us on journeys and lead us to friends"), why the rain falls ("To help grow the things that we need to feed you"), why the sky thunders ("It's the song of the storm"), and more. As evening falls, the youngster inquires, "But what am I meant for and why am I here?" and is answered with a reassuring, "To live and to wonder, my darling, my dear." Howard's charming, soft-edged illustrations show the cub's exploration throughout the day, from dipping paws into a babbling stream to gazing at a full moon. The affection the characters feel for one another shines through in their gentle facial expressions and the paintings' warm colors. A sweet tale of discovery.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.