Bear and Bunny

Bear and the rabbit he met in Bear in Love (2012) are now the best of friends, exploring the woods together and apart. "You see, the bear is sure the bunny is a very small bear," Pinkwater writes. "The bunny is sure the bear is a very large bunny. This is not so, but it would be too hard to explain it to them." Once they meet, they stroll aimlessly, make idle conversation, and take naps, with the white bunny sprawled on the bear's broad back. Bear collects pinecones. Bunny points out a caterpillar. They decide they want a pet, determine that neither pinecones nor caterpillars suffice, and adopt a tree frog, which they believe to be a "kitty." Hillenbrand's mixed-media illustrations convey the duo's ease and amiability, with the bear resembling an adult Pooh and the pink-cheeked bunny another species of Piglet. Pinkwater's meandering narrative mimes children's improvisational storytelling, and there are plenty of chuckles to be had over the misunderstandings of his none-too-bright characters. Ages 2%E2%80%935. Author's agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Dec.)