THE BEAR WHO HAD NOTHING TO WEAR

A teddy goes bare.

Most teddy bears are “happy to dress how you want them to dress.” Not Albie. And teddies generally let their owners choose their gender, but Albie refuses (the text uses he/him pronouns for the protagonist). Each day, Albie dons a different ensemble, depending on how he feels. On Monday, Albie wears an infant’s bonnet and onesie and reclines in a stroller; he quickly doffs those duds (“Wrong outfit! Wrong age!”) and decides he’s a prince, complete with a gold crown. On Tuesday, a bored Albie opts for a glittery-winged Butterfly Bear getup. Albie then tries out cowboy and pirate outfits as well as “city” and “country” togs. Finally, on Sunday, donating everything previously worn “to poor teddies in rags,” Albie decides to wear only “a beautiful smile.” Expressed in jaunty rhymes, this bouncy U.K. import lets kids practice naming the days of the week; it will be readily embraced by children trying to figure out who they are, those who balk when it comes time to getting dressed for the day, and youngsters who enjoy experimenting with different clothing choices. Frustrated parents who struggle with getting kids to pick out an outfit—or even keep it on altogether—will chuckle knowingly at Albie’s antics. The comical, energetic color illustrations get at the heart of the protagonist’s lively, expressive personality as he figures out who he wants to be.

Lots of relatable fun for youngsters coming into their own.