The popular Bear first introduced in Bear Snores On is back for a fourth episode, headed to the swimming hole and looking for a buddy in Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson, illus. by Jane Chapman. Youngsters will enjoy the play on the friend who's hiding (an owl) and the repetition of Bear's "Who?" (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

When Bear hears a rustle in the woods, he wonders who made the noise. It's not Mouse, or Hare, or any of his other friends. After much coaxing, Bear finally convinces a shy owl to come out of hiding. The plot is less coherent than in previous Bear stories but the rhyme and the warm illustrations are lively. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr 2-A mystery character is introduced in this fourth book about Bear and his friends. One summer morning, the cub heads out to play. He hears someone in the tree and thinks it might be his friend Mouse. But Mouse arrives and eliminates that possibility. So begins the guessing game that makes up the rhyming text as, page by page, the various woodland animals come on the scene narrowing the choices of the creature's identity. The refrain "And the Bear asks, `Who?'" gives readers a heavy-handed clue, but not until the end does this shy newcomer make his appearance. Chapman's acrylic illustrations are as soft and cuddly as ever and the familiar rhythm works well for reading aloud. While this isn't the strongest of the titles, Bear's many fans won't want to miss it.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.