EAT UP, BEAR!

Humans can play an important role in keeping bears safe by ensuring our food is securely tucked away.

Readers aren’t going to miss the noble, not-so-subtle theme of this educational board book: that humans must “take care or bears will eat your food!” On the left-hand page of each spread, a diverse assemblage of picnickers, campers, and hikers plainly demonstrate various methods of keeping bears away from tempting people-food, including locking up coolers, using bear-safe containers, and appropriately disposing of trash. Safely separated by the gutter, bears on the right-hand page nosh blissfully on insects, acorns, berries, and the like. Bright, almost painterly, full-bleed illustrations pay homage to the lovely scenery both bears and humans are enjoying, and while the illustrations are more cartoony than photorealistic, the bears’ natural poses as they chow down remind readers that these are real animals they are trying to protect. But while this board book clearly introduces safe food storage to little hikers, it’s still a somewhat odd conceit: Children, particularly toddlers, generally don’t plan trips or handle the gear. The text also flags in its read-aloud rhythm. It opens and closes with peppy couplets, but the rhyme disappears abruptly, replaced with a clunky repetitive refrain that feels awkward and unfinished.

Though challenging to read aloud, it should raise bear awareness for young wildlife enthusiasts.