A Cub Story

A smiling, dot-eyed brown bear cub narrates its life over the course of a year, taking readers through seasonal bear activities, including sitting “very still” in front of a waterfall during spring, rolling down a hill into blackberry bushes in the summertime, fishing in the fall, and hibernating in the winter. As the cub compares its attributes to the animals around it—a moose’s appetite dwarfs its own, and the cub is a slower runner than the elk—young bear enthusiasts will find plenty to capture their attention. Tracy adds endearing, sensorial touches to otherwise straightforward diction: “This is my den./ I like it here./ Tucked in the back./ On top of leaves./ Curled into a cuddle lump.” Farrell contributes cheery, engaging art rendered in gouache, colored pencil, ink, and digital mixed media to this lightly informative, bear-centered board book. Ages 2–4. (Sept.)