The Wedding of Brown Bear and White Bear

PreSchool-Grade 2-- A superb, refreshing glance at the blooming of real love, sensitively told in terms that children will readily understand. A dashing brown bear is smitten by a lovely white bear gliding across the neighborhood skating pond. Her graceful presence works romantic magic on his heart. Thinking of little else, he accidentally manages to make her acquaintance when he stumbles clumsily at her feet. Happily, it is the beginning of a wonderful courtship. As their love grows, Brown Bear writes a tender letter proposing marriage and White Bear accepts. Surrounded by their friends at story's end, the happy couple is wed and they dance the night away. For young readers puzzled by the perplexities of adult behavior, Beck has unraveled one aspect of the mystery. Henry's delicate illustrations are an ideal companion to the mood of the text. Her observant studies are perfectly paired with a sense of whimsy to create an imaginative watercolor world with a natural aura. Inventive page layouts offer nicely varied images and interesting sequences of action. An outstanding collaborative effort. --Virginia E. Jeschelnig, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Bear meets bear, marries bear and lives happily ever after in this affectionately illustrated book about true love that happily knows no complications. Lumbering Brown Bear is entranced with the pink-frocked White Bear he sees while skating. They meet and spend time becoming good friends, and eventually, Brown Bear writes a love letter. After admiring White Bear's "eyes as bright as stars" and "fur whiter than the moon," he asks, "Would you like to look at the moon and the stars / with me always and forever?" Without further ado, they invite their friends to the wedding, where Brown Bear places "a crown of wild roses on White Bear's head" and they dance until "the last of the stars slip out of the sky." Henry's high-spirited characters are as expressive and cheerful as Holabird's in Angelina Ballerina, and they provide a witty accompaniment to Beck's innocent, delicate text. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.