The Littlest Family’s Big Day

A family of tiny bears has settled into its new tree trunk home, and now it’s time to explore the forest neighborhood—or, as Martin (The Wonderful Things You Will Be) writes, “set out on a wander.” They find welcoming animal and elf families, butterfly fairies, and a river “deep and wild” that they skillfully navigate on skiffs made from leaves. Momentarily lost after a rainstorm, the bears are flown home by a huge, benevolent owl (“But when you are Lost, it is the best time to Found,” Martin opines) and feted with a forest block party on a foldout spread. Martin’s fans know what they like: pretty, decorative artwork with touches of magic, and characters who are unfailingly serene, whether they’re confronted by nature’s grandeur or an animal (the owl) that could easily eat them. But even skeptics will enjoy the cozy details of the bears’ world, including a mail carrier who’s an actual snail and an elf child so engrossed in a book that he doesn’t even look up as he waves good-bye. Ages 3–7. [em]Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Oct.) [/em]

This review has been corrected. A previous version listed the incorrect title.