Warnes (the Little Tiger books; It Could Have Been Worse
) delivers a charmingly illustrated rendition of this favorite children's song starring a close-knit family of bears. As the song lyrics begin "Jesus loves me!/ This I know,/ for the Bible/ tells me so," Papa Bear reads My First Bible
with Little Bear while cozy in bed. Subsequent chipper scenes follow the bears on a fishing excursion, gathering eggs and painting them for Easter, and going out for an evening marshmallow roast, with just-baked cookies in tow. The bears have a cuddly, friendly demeanor that's sure to endear them to a wide range of readers. According to the flap copy, Warnes's wife and son inspired the Mama Bear and Little Bear characters. Musical notation and the lyrics of three verses to the song are including on the closing pages. All ages. (Feb.)
