Tell Me the Day Backwards

PreS-K—Timmy Bear climbs into bed and asks his mother to play the Tell Me the Day Backwards game. With her help, he recalls his day in reverse, from brushing his teeth in the river to waking from hibernation that morning. What could be a bland, sweet tale is enlivened by some serious drama. In retrospect, Timmy shares that he almost drowned after bees chased him off a high rock. Why would he jump into the river? The string of events becomes clear as he works back to the point where he found a hollow log with a dusty beehive inside. "And that's when you should have come and found me!" Mama Bear reminds her son. Family love permeates the story, reinforced by creamy paper, warm watercolors, and soft, round shapes. Little details add humor, like a boy doll on Timmy's bed. Sepia-tone endpapers depict the bears' world, allowing readers to retrace the day's events. While bedtime stories abound, not all are equal. Make room on your shelves for this one.—Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR