A Flower in the Snow

This gentle friendship story from Corderoy (Just One More) and Allsopp (Goodnight, Angels) follows a girl named Luna and her polar bear best friend. Allsopp's delicately drafted illustrations depict Luna and Bear's relationship with tenderness and quiet humor: both clasp their hands behind their backs as they skate on a frozen lake, and they huddle close when they catch a cold at the same time, a tiny plaid blanket tossed over Bear's back. When a yellow "sunshine flower" Bear gives Luna proves ephemeral, Bear leaves their wintry home in search of another%E2%80%94and absence does indeed make their hearts grow fonder. Corderoy keeps the story moving forward steadily, with Bear's exploration giving it a light sense of adventure. While the story is set in "an icy kingdom far away," Luna's igloo, fur-trimmed outerwear, and braids nod toward Inuit influences. The ending, in which planted seeds result in a field of yellow flowers bursting from the snowy landscape, feels entirely in keeping with the magical %E2%80%A8nature of this friendship. Ages 4%E2%80%93up. (Dec.)