Big Bear Little Brother

K-Gr 3—Pausing on the harsh ice, a solitary polar bear hears a cry, looks up, and catches the child who tumbles from the cliff above him into his huge paws. Minik trustingly follows Big Bear, who protects him like a big brother. Their friendship grows in a series of vignettes done in pencil lines that convey their feelings and their fluid movements across the snow. In the raging wind and intense cold of a sudden storm, Big Bear protects Little Brother, drawing him close to keep him warm. When the boy's father approaches on his sled, Little Brother protects the bear, telling his dad how Big Bear saved his life. This reciprocity mirrors the boy's relationship with the bear. The storm ends as quickly as it began, and they must part. Both know they will never forget each other. The stunning artwork evokes the great strength, grandeur, and gentleness of the bear and the cold and loneliness of the snowy landscape. This winter tale is a solid choice for storytimes, and young readers will be drawn to the unusual friendship.—Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN