Booklist Review

For a young boy, there's one household member he doesn't quite get along with: a bear. The bear is bossy, scary, and annoying, and what Bear considers fun like holding him upside-down really isn't. But according to his parents, the bear is family. But when the boy has a run-in with bigger kids at the park, the bear proves to be a helpful protector, and gradually, the boy starts to recognize some of the nice things about having a bear in the family. Eventually, the bear's real-life identity is revealed in an upbeat, playful conclusion little siblings will surely be able to relate to. Tatsukawa's animated, soft-textured digital illustrations in cool tones depict the bear and human characters in blocky, expressive shapes, which nicely extend the boy's straightforward, sometimes droll narrative. While some younger kids might not immediately catch on to the metaphor, little ones with older siblings in particular will likely appreciate the boy's gradually shifting perspective, as well as the warm portrayal of the multifaceted nature of sibling relationships.--Shelle Rosenfeld Copyright 2020 Booklist