Country Bear's Good Neighbor

Country Bear borrows all the ingredients for a cake from his neighbor and then gives her the cake as a present

PreSchool-K A lively little red-headed girl works hard at being a good neighbor to Country Bear. She lets him borrow apples, sugar, an egg, and more. Just when she's about to become annoyed at having given away so many ingredients, Bear returns her kindness with a delicious apple cake for them to enjoy together. (The recipe is included.) This is an unpretentious and kind picture book. The setting is an idyllic country farm; the characters are appealing. The colors are soft and fuzzy, giving the book a very gentle tone. No adults intrude on this delightful neighborliness, which preschoolers and kindergarteners will enjoy at bedtime and quiet moments. Anna Biagioni Hart, Sherwood Regional Library, Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

One by one, Country Bear borrows a number of ingredients from the little girl who lives next door: first apples, then sugar, an egg, and so on. Finally, the girl loses patience and proclaims "absolutely not!" before he even makes clear his request. Happily, this time he has come not to borrow but to share the cake concocted from her offerings. Soft, light-infused pictures fill out the story, which will seem mild to those who guess early on that the bear will eventually borrow every ingredient. By using different background scenery for every act of lending, Councell forms a contrast to the girl's repeated pronouncements on her neighborliness ("You are lucky I am a good neighbor"), but her facial expressions appear somewhat static. Still, for both author and artist, this is a sweet debut, which includes a recipe for "Country Bear's Good Neighbor Cake." Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.