PreS-Gr 3 —A shy bear expands his social circle with his friend's support in a coming-of-age tale brimming with subtle emotion. Best friends Randall, a bear, and Parker, a young girl, share every adventure. When Randall meets some new bears he thinks might be fun, he's scared to approach them. However, Parker encourages him. The bears have fun together and soon Randall spends more time with his new friends, facing a fundamental dilemma. To move on from Parker without betraying what they had together? Shum ( First Night of Howlergarten ) masterfully conveys mood. Randall's body language is relaxed with Parker but tenses up when out of his element. Parker's face is always earnest with a hint of a smile. The other bears appear raucous at first, dominating the page, but as they become friends, their postures align. The limited color palette of the watercolor and ink scenes and spartan design emphasize facial expressions. The narrative reads on two very different levels, keeping adults from tiring of the story; the emotional cues are all spot on. Few picture books ring so true in so few words. The conclusion is a near tearjerker for adults who will remember leveling up to a new group of friends; young readers will be encouraged to reach outside their comfort zone. It's a win-win reading experience for all. VERDICT An essential work on making friends, being brave, and dealing with the inherent emotional turmoil of growing up.—Jessica A. Bushore

A young bear and a girl share a special friendship.Randall, a bespectacled, sandy-colored bear, is best friends with Parker, a brown-skinned tot who wears her hair in puffs and has matching red glasses. Randall and Parker do everything together. They especially love to build intricate sand castles and eat ice cream. But one day, three bears playing nearby interrupt their fun. Parker encourages Randall to introduce himself, and they all shyly become friends. Except…the other bears don't seem to notice Parker. In fact, the more they hang out together (Randall even starts wearing the same striped neckties as the others), the more Parker seems to fade away. Astute readers will realize what's going on: Parker, who nudges Randall to be more outgoing and pushes him to try new things, may not be there at all. But not to worry; she comes back whenever he thinks of her. This gentle, matter-of-fact tale will appeal to children longing to make new friends but a bit uncertain about doing so. Shum uses light-blue sketches to convey the two pals' imaginary play; when Parker starts to fade, she's also outlined in blue, with only her bright-red glasses remaining. But she'll always be there whenever Randall needs her. And, in an inspired twist, Parker finds a new pal of her own: a bear cub in need of an imaginary friend.A thoughtful look at making new friends. (Picture book. 4-7)