Old Bear (by Kevin Henkes)

As a lumbering, cuddly brown bear hunkers down for his long winter hibernation, he dreams he is a cub again, frolicking through the four seasons and all the pleasures they bring. Finally, he awakes and can hardly believe his eyes when he walks out into a blossoming spring world.

Any book by Kevin Henkes is worth having, and this one is no exception. With the usual broad outlines and familiar watercolors, Henkes has filled OLD BEAR with striking illustrations that give the simple tale a tone as beautiful and pleasant as the world Old Bear loves. His dream world is filled with giant pink crocuses and butterfly leaves of spring, blueberries that fall from the sky during a summer rain. Splashes of orange, yellow, and red fill the autumn world with salmon, birds, and leaves, and the winter world blazes with icy stars that fill the sky like fireworks.

It's easy to understand why Henkes has been called a genius because of the masterful way he merges simple, poignant stories with expressive, colorful paintings. His books have been awarded the Caldecott medal as well as New York Times Book Review honors. Though Old Bear may not be the best of his best, it's definitely a book worth sharing.

Author: Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication date: August 19, 2008
Number of pages: 32
Hardcover price: $17.99
Read Aloud: 3
Read Alone: 6