Golden Bear

In mellifluous, rhymed couplets, Young ( The New Baby ; My Babysitter ) portrays the friendship between a cherubic African American child and a cuddly, life-size teddy bear. The fluid verse describes the two as constant companions: ``Golden Bear, Golden Bear, / I have seen him everywhere: / Dancing up the golden stair, / Rocking in my rocking chair.'' Isadora's ( Ben's Trumpet ; My Ballet Class ) robustly colored, full-page paintings present large-scale renditions of the duo as they play together during various seasons--they build a snowman, spot tulips in the grass and pretend they're ``pirates in the tub.'' Finally, they snuggle together at bedtime, ``Dreaming dreamy dreams at night, / Golden Bear tucked in tight.'' A touching tribute to a special relationship--and to a youngster's fertile imagination. Ages 2-6. (Apr.)