A BEAR TO SHARE

Thanks to a gift from her aunt, Tiana now has two teddy bears, but when her best friend, Timothy, reveals that he’s never had one, Tiana gets a big idea.

Tiana, with light brown skin and Afro-textured pigtails, loves music and her favorite teddy bear, Bach. Tiana and Bach have been through a lot together, and poor Bach is missing an eye, has worn fur, and is oozing stuffing to show for it. One day, her mother surprises her with a new teddy bear, but Tiana is hesitant to replace her much-loved friend. The next day, she races to the playground to discuss the matter with Timothy, a White boy with glasses. Like Tiana, Timothy doesn’t see anything wrong with Bach, going on to tell Tiana that in his house, where money is scarce, “toys aren’t a pri-or-ity.” Tiana is sad for her friend and wants him to also have a teddy bear. She discusses the matter with her mother, who lovingly explains that every family is not the same and that some families are not able to afford the same things as others. After some thought, Tiana decides that she wants Timothy to have her new bear, and her mother agrees. Timothy loves his new bear, naming it Billie, “because he loves jazz,” and the four “all [play] together in perfect harmony.” Empathetic, playful illustrations complement this adorable story, which opens with a note from the authors about their organization, Baby2Baby. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet read-aloud about friendship, kindness, and equity.