TIME TO ROAR

There’s a time to speak softly—and a time to speak out.

Sasha the bear is peaceable, and like any good bear, she enjoys a good nap. And what better place for a bear to slumber than a serene, grassy meadow in a vibrant forest? Unfortunately, when “great yellow beasts [tear] into the meadow,” Sasha and the other animals fear their home and tranquility might be destroyed. Can the animals save the day? Sasha offers to roar at them, but the animals decide to try other strategies. The bluebird sings to the beasts, which children will of course recognize as bulldozers and diggers; the rabbit tries to distract them by thumping the ground; the deer tries to lead them away from the forest. All is to no avail—the beasts are making too much noise to pay attention. But Sasha’s anger rises, and she approaches the beasts to roar, “fill[ing] the meadow with her bellow,” driving the beasts away. Cole delivers an environmental tale that is sweet, cheerful, and empowering—if simplistic—offering a meaningful message in just the right language for young listeners and learners. Gibson’s use of color and light to distinguish the quiet from the bold helps Cole’s story when it’s time for Sasha to deliver her big moment.

Should spark budding activists and little bears everywhere.