A Dog Called Bear

February 15, 2018
Young Lucy wants a dog but winds up with a bear--but she is under the impression it is a dog.Ever since she took her first breath, Lucy has wanted a dog. She's collected dog books, bought a dog bed, and planted a garden for the dog to rummage about in, and she will walk and love the dog forever. One day she takes the plunge. She goes looking for a dog. Not at the pound but casually, around the neighborhood. Despite her dog education, Lucy approaches the first creature she finds, a frog. Well, that won't work because the frog needs a bath and Lucy has only a shower. Then comes a fox--but he can only be a part-time dog. Overhearing these exchanges is a bear reading a newspaper, who suggests to Lucy he is just what she wants. At first all goes well. Then Bear falls asleep for five months. He also digs a lot and eats way too much porridge. And fetching sticks? They feud, and Bear leaves. Instantly, Bear feels lonely. But so too is Lucy; she puts lost posters everywhere looking for Bear. They reunite. All is well. So what's new? Not much. The minimalist artwork, which depicts the bear rather like a giant hamster and Lucy as a bespectacled white girl, is mildly amusing. But in the crowded arena of friendship books, this does not stand out. If this is your first friendship book, it will do; if it is your second, pass. (Picture book. 4-6)

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April 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-Lucy is a girl with a single-minded, well-thought-out, and expertly equipped mission: find a dog of her very own. Armed with a book of dog breeds she encounters many animals who audition for the role but fall short of her expectations. The frog, for example, points out that "dogs are licky and barky and smelly." But Lucy only has a shower and the frog's bathing requirements knock him out of the running. Finally, the bear who has been tailing her reveals himself as one of the new breeds "invented recently." Their relationship seems like a perfect match until the strain of cohabitation between a large furry animal and a small, tidy child grow too great and bear runs away. Their reunion over Lucy's "Missing Dog" posters is a sweetly satisfying resolution. Filled with tongue-in-cheek humor for older readers and pleasing thick-lined illustrations, this is an ideal story about adjusting expectations. VERDICT While not quite as emotionally resonant as Fiona Robertson's similarly themed The Perfect Pet, this title is a solid offering in the picture book pet genre. It is a fun choice for storytime or family sharing.-Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH

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