Poppy and Sam and the Hunt for Jam

K-Gr 4–An endearing early reader graphic novel, this delightful tale follows Poppy and Sam on a snowy adventure. Sam, a small bear, wakes up early from hibernation with a growling tummy. Sam wakes up Poppy, who worries that Sam should go back to sleep, but Sam is only thinking of one thing: rosehip jam! The problem is that Sam’s special pot is missing, and there is no rosehip or honey to be found! With the help of some friends who are busy working through the winter, Sam finds the pot and the rosehip but is suddenly snowed in and stuck in a cave and unable to get any honey! Sam meets Ursula—another bear who has woken up early because of hunger—and together, they try to figure out a way to Poppy, who is snowed into her pumpkin and worried that Sam is frozen under the snow. Cathon’s storytelling keeps young readers engrossed while the illustrations match the text and advance the narrative perfectly, with expressive characters and an adorable story.