PreS-Sam is absentminded. While outside playing, the little cub removes his coat. Just as his mother discovers that it is missing, his friend returns it. The next day, the bear takes off his mittens to fix his bike and returns home without them. Just then his father comes home bearing the mittens, found in the garage. Then Sam loses the hat his Grandma sent. Struggling to remember where it could be, he topples over and looks up to find it stuck on a tree branch above the fence he just climbed. The simple story contains minimal action, but children will relate to Sam's forgetfulness. McPhail's detailed and textured watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations create a warm and welcoming feeling. The book will work best with one-on-one guided reading, but it can also be used as a dialogic reading exercise.-Linda Zeilstra Sawyer, Skokie Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A young bear cub who can't keep track of his belongings is determined not to lose his new hat. Sam doesn't mean to lose his things; it just seems to happen. While playing with his best friend Billy, he gets too hot and takes off his red winter coat. Luckily, Billy finds it and delivers it to his door. It is likewise with his green fuzzy mittens; Papa finds them in the garage. When he gets a package from Grandma, he is so excited to show Billy his wonderful blue wooly hat that he takes a shortcut--and loses it. But as luck would have it, it isn't lost very long. McPhail's artwork perfectly suits the text, with soft colors, plump figures and expressive faces. Perfect for those loved ones who just can't seem to remember where they last saw. . . . Too bad everyone's not as lucky as Sam. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Absent-minded Sam Bear loses track of his coat and mittens with little concern. But when his new hat from Grandma goes missing, he's determined to find it. This sweet, sprightly tale's humor is so subtle that it's easy to miss; happily, author Lamb isn't interested in turning the book into a take-care-of-your-things harangue. McPhail's warm, old-fashioned art is as understated as the story. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

McPhail's signature style is evident in the soft, warm watercolors that illustrate this cozy easy-reader about friendship and family. Sam Bear has lots of uproarious play with his next-door neighbor and best friend, Billy. Their favorite game is riding tricycles and bumping into one another. But during the fun, Sam loses his red winter coat. Billy finds it and brings it back. Next Sam loses his green mittens. Papa finds them and returns them, but then Sam loses the blue woolly hat that Grandma made him. He and Billy find that together: "Lucky us!" says Sam, smiling. Words and pictures will appeal to preschoolers, who can learn their colors as they enjoy the story of small mistakes and affection. Link this with its opposite, Barbara Bottner and Geral Kruglik's Pish and Posh Wish for Fairy Wings0 (reviewed on p.50), 0 in which the child can't do anything right. --Hazel Rochman Copyright 2006 Booklist