Brave Bear

In this slight book, a T-shirt-clad teddy bear sees a bird drop out of its nest and manages to climb a towering tree to return it. Each line of text is spoken by the bear, from ""Are you all right?"" and ""Can I help you?"" (he's very polite) to ""I'm not sure that I can..."" and ""We're almost there."" Mallat (Seven Stars More!) sets the duo against a foggy forest floor, intimidatingly tall straight trees and sponged leaves, with branches poking out of the picture frame. The perspective suggests just how tall the trees look to a small, apprehensive bear about to climb one. In the last image, the bear and bird, safely back in the nest, are set off against a circle of sun with the words ""I did,"" providing closure. While this book praises kindness and shows the rewards of brave persistence, the text is too schematic. Given the slow pacing and only the merest suggestion of characterizations, the book, however well intentioned, doesn't quite make it, even if the bear does. Ages 2-5. (Aug.)