Maurice Sendak's Little Bear: Little Bear's New Friend

From Little Bear's 1957 debut as the launch title in the I Can Read series to the direct-to-video release of The Little Bear Movie, the ursine hero, originally created by Else Holmelund Minarik and depicted in ink-and-watercolor wash by Maurice Sendak, takes center stage in five picture books by Minarik, based on the Nick Jr animated television series produced by Nelvana (which holds the copyright on the text). Artists chosen by Sendak illustrate the books. In Little Bear's New Friend, illus. by Heather Green, the fellow befriends a wild cub while camping on Pudding Hill. Father's Flying Flapjacks and To Grandmother's House, both illus. by David Wenzel, appear in board book editions, while A Present for Mother Bear and The Search for Spring, both illus. by Chris Hahner, are novelty titles. (Apr.)