Where Teddy Bears Come From

A glass of milk, a cuddle with mom and a bedtime story don't help a small gray wolf fall asleep; what he needs is a teddy bear. Determined to find out where they come from, he journeys through a fairy tale wood where he meets the Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood and Santa Claus (and is repeatedly mistaken for a “big bad wolf”). When he fixes the flat tire on Santa's “big red truck,” he's aptly rewarded with the object of his affection. Though some may struggle to decipher what's happening in Ayto's visually complicated spreads, more sophisticated readers will like this offbeat Christmas story. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)