Springtime Bears

After Mama Bear has played with her three babies all winter, her gruffness about spring cleaning makes them wonder if she still loves them

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Mother Bear has played with her little bears all winter long, amusing them with cheerful games. But now spring is approaching, and the cozy but cluttered den needs cleaning. When the little bears ignore their mother's order to stop playing and help clean, she becomes grouchy and sends the bears to bed early without games. The three bears worry that their mother does not love them. They decide to clean up the den while she sleeps and then test her love by hiding: if she really loves them, she will find them. Mother Bear is touched by their attempt to pick up, and frantically starts dumping drawers and toy chests to find her babiesand in the process, clutters the den again. The story line is weak and sugary; the color illustrations are stylized but vital and robust. Children will almost feel the cuddlesome round bears, the soft comfort of the den, and the lush spring. The illustrations offer the only real spring in this book, but they can't redeem the slight story. Barbara Peklo Serling, Oneida City Schools, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.