Waking one morning in December to find -a new star,/ barely visible,/ yet larger than any before- and having located a hilltop evergreen -more majestic than any before,- Bear bellows out in all directions. Because -it was time,- his call summons animals and people from everywhere, who amass -candle and copper,/ flower and oil,- and gather around the evergreen in a spirit of peace. Andersen-s artwork, rendered in oil paints on gessoed paper, echoes the story-s feel of broad reverence through sweeping, snowy landscapes and an apt use of perspective. Schaefer-s bucolic narrative never hints at the source of the -time,- the star, or the tree, making this read potentially confusing for more literal-minded holiday readers. Still, it effectively considers the gentle togetherness that winter-s coming ushers in. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 3 When a bear awakes one December and discovers a new star, he follows it until he finds a magnificent evergreen tree and then summons animals and people from across the world to gather beneath its branches. Bear sends its roar "through canyon and valley" and "over sea and peak." Heeding the call, which grows ever louder, animals from far and wide stream toward the tree. People come, too, many bearing candles, instruments, and other gifts. They come "from city and farm,/across ocean and desert,/because it's timefor peace." The lyrical text is written in poem format and filled with compound objects such as "mask and drum" and "scroll and shawl." Many are alliterative. The beautiful oil paintings are all double-page bleeds, many on star-speckled blue backdrops amid falling snow. Semi-circular swishes of color along with yellow dots in the center and pink-dotted rays represent the star. Landscapes change as Bear's message reaches people in different parts of the world. There is so much to see, including a bird, bright red wings outspread, bearing an olive branch, a symbol of the message in the text's final word. The tree appears huge, bleeding off the page, surrounded by animals and people, and finally, in miniature atop the world. VERDICT Because it is suitable for readers of different faiths or even as a plea for peace, this is a perfect choice for all holiday collections. The symbols of the tree, the star, the gifts, and other aspects of the story are best appreciated through group discussion. Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA