Big Brown Bear’s Cave

A bear learns the value of decluttering in this appealing story. After Big Brown Bear selects a new cave, he can’t get comfortable in it. Upon discovering that humans fill their own caves (aka garages) with stuff, Bear decides, “I need stuff, too!” and immediately begins carrying things back to his cave (his favorites are “stuff that came with wheels, stuff that came with handles, and stuff that came in boxes”). The cave is soon bursting with objects Bear doesn’t need (like a vacuum cleaner), leading him to become literally trapped by his possessions (or other people’s possessions, more accurately). Zommer (The Big Blue Thing on the Hill) continues to illustrate with almost a naturalist’s eye for detail, and his digital art is textured with delicately etched marks and patterns—the leaves in his forest have veins and his bears are covered in hundreds of little hairs. Only by cleaning out does Bear realize that it’s friends, not stuff, that make a place feel like home, a message Zommer delivers with quiet humor and a light touch. Ages 3–7. (Mar.)