But the Bear Came Back by Tammi Sauer - ESSENTIAL

But the Bear Came Back by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Dan Taylor.  PICTURE BOOK Sterling Children’s Books, 2018. $17  9781454920984  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL- ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

One day a bear knocks on a little boys door, and the little boy politely informs the bear that he doesn’t belong in a house and to go away.  The bear keeps returning to the boy’s home, but the boy tells the bear to go away.  Eventually the bear does go away, and then the little boy realizes that he misses him.  The little boy looks for the bear everywhere and can’t find him, but eventually the bear comes back.  

The illustrations make this story so adorable.  The simple one sentence text combined with the expressive pictures make for a captivating story.  I read this book to a group of four-year-olds and they were all interested to see what happened to the bear and the boy.  I think this book makes the reader consider giving someone new a chance instead of automatically assuming they shouldn’t be your friend.  

C. Peterson