BEAR & HARE

Two friends have vastly different experiences in the snow.

The tables have turned, and so have the seasons, since Bear and Hare Go Fishing (2015): it’s winter now, and it’s Hare’s turn for enthusiasm. Catching snowflakes on their tongues causes Hare to smile widely, but Bear looks uncomfortable. The text says “they” make snow prints, but only Hare does—Bear stands stranded, waist-deep in snow, and mournfully watches Hare waltz away, waving breezily. Snow angels? A cinch for Hare, but Bear sinks deep into the snow on his back and lies there. A snow hare is easy to make, accessorized with a scarf—Bear’s, of course, and now he’s chilly—but the only snow bear is formed when snow falls from branches above and buries real Bear. Hare snickers and points. Hare’s thin, elegant legs and ears make a strong visual contrast to Bear’s big, orange-brown scruffiness, while the snow itself looks so soft that readers may want to jump right in, Hare’s unfriendliness notwithstanding. With watercolor, pencil, and wax crayons, Gravett includes a variety of textures, from delicately discrete falling snowflakes to some snow stuck to Bear’s fur that looks almost sticky. Finally Hare shoves Bear up a steep hill, and despite Bear’s trepidation, he’s thrilled and joyful as they slide down. Harmony and joy restored.

A mischievous addition to the winter bookshelf.