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A Song for Bear

illus. by Alex Barrow. 32p. Thames & Hudson. May 2019. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9780500651810.
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PreS-Gr 2-Little Bear loves watching and listening to the birds in the forest. They are soft, sweet, and graceful; the bear loves them so much, he decides to join their ranks. He tries to sing like a bird, but he growls like a bear. He tries to fly like a bird, but he falls to the ground. He tries to look like a bird, but he looks like a bear. With each attempt to become a bird, Little Bear grows sadder. Finally, a wise owl encourages him to think about all of the things he is good at. Little Bear lists the things he can do, and as he rhymes, he finds his own song—a rap. His song is different from the birds, but no less beautiful and powerful. This cute, heartwarming story is told through simple rhyming sentences. The plot is silly and perfect for young beginner readers. The poetic flow engages readers and will make a wonderful read-aloud. The graphic-style digital images are bright and dominate the page. They complement the elementary text with its clean legible font.
VERDICT An uplifting selection to share with children, especially those seeking to discover their own songs.-Haley Amendt, Hinton Municipal Library, Alberta

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