"When he walked,
it walked.
When he danced,
it danced.
And when dinnertime arrived,
he tied the silver string to a stone."
Alone and full of curiosity, a young cub investigates a red, round sphere with a long string attached to it. In all attempts to capture it, the bear fails. When he tumbles and falls, the orb gets closer. The two play with wild abandon and keep good company together through days and nights. The bear is happy to introduce his new friend to every area of his forest home.
The two are equally happy, doing what friends do. Bear is enchanted ... until the inconceivable happens. A tight hug brings a quick end to this new friendship. The bear is disconsolate, staring at the bits and pieces that litter the ground around him. Try though he might, nothing brings his friend back. The bear is quick to accept responsibility:
"Bad bear,
he thought.
Bad, bad bear."
Too sad to eat, the bear crosses the creek, only to be surprised by the bright light of the full moon. Basked in moonglow and reassurance, the bear drifts off with loving memories of his round, red friend and their many escapades.
Caria Chen's soft, mixed media art provides an absolutely gorgeous background for Matthew Burgess' stellar text. Emotions are real and evident in every lovely scene. What a perfect bedtime read for little ones.
"Good bear.
Kind bear.
Don't worry, bear."
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