The Invisible Bear

Ink and watercolor spreads by newcomer Metzger introduce a large, ghostly white bear: “No one ever came to see him, and he lived all alone in his colorless world.” A small rain cloud perches above his head, and mists of pale gray surround him. One day, a host of scarlet dragonflies invades the bear’s house, announcing the presence of Madame Odette, who arrives in a jalopy piled high with boxes. Roses and dragonflies accompany her everywhere: “She lived in a cheerful world of color and sound.” The two exist in uneasy proximity until a drought wilts Madam Odette’s garden and the bear’s rain cloud saves it. Thus begins their friendship and—though Madame Odette moves on—a colorful transformation in the bear’s life. Metzger underscores the unmistakable contrast between the bear’s drab existence and the abundance of Madame Odette’s: he cooks, feeds his goldfish, and reads; she talks on the telephone, dotes on her flowers, and luxuriates in a clawfoot tub. Yet the possibility of making a quiet life meaningful is vividly represented, too. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)