PreS-Gr 1-Bear and Bunny became friends at the end of this pair's gentle whodunit Bear in Love (Candlewick, 2012), in which they learned about the reciprocity of friendship, and they remain inseparable in this iteration. Spending their days wandering and singing little ditties that add to the charm of the relationship, the two do not even recognize that they are of different species: "You see, the bear is sure that the bunny is a very small bear. The bunny is sure the bear is a very large bunny." The narrator says it would be too hard to explain, and it doesn't matter anyway. Whether this is an important global lesson on friendship or a statement about the animals' limited intelligence doesn't matter either. For the cliff-hanger in this story is the fate of a little frog adopted by the two.who believe he is a kitten. Hillenbrand's mixed-media illustrations are the real winners here, with a faded forest background creating a sense of place without distraction. Bear's and Bunny's gestures, expressions, and movements are simple yet full of humanity. A wonderful storytime addition and an opportunity for compare and contrast, perhaps with one of Bonny Becker's "Bear and Mouse" (Candlewick) books. VERDICT Recommended for most picture book collections.-Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence, RI © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Bear and bunny best friends ("the bear is sure the bunny is a very small bear" and vice versa) find a pet to care for together: a frog they mistake for a kitten. With muted, whisper-soft illustrations, the gentle story removes distinctions between bear and bunny, frog and kitten, reinforcing that the simple tenants of love, friendship, and caring know no bounds. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Bear and the rabbit he met in Bear in Love (2012) are now the best of friends, exploring the woods together and apart. "You see, the bear is sure the bunny is a very small bear," Pinkwater writes. "The bunny is sure the bear is a very large bunny. This is not so, but it would be too hard to explain it to them." Once they meet, they stroll aimlessly, make idle conversation, and take naps, with the white bunny sprawled on the bear's broad back. Bear collects pinecones. Bunny points out a caterpillar. They decide they want a pet, determine that neither pinecones nor caterpillars suffice, and adopt a tree frog, which they believe to be a "kitty." Hillenbrand's mixed-media illustrations convey the duo's ease and amiability, with the bear resembling an adult Pooh and the pink-cheeked bunny another species of Piglet. Pinkwater's meandering narrative mimes children's improvisational storytelling, and there are plenty of chuckles to be had over the misunderstandings of his none-too-bright characters. Ages 2-5. Author's agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

The gentle bear and rabbit who became fast friends in Bear in Love (2012) now share the wonders of the forest (pinecones! caterpillars!) with each other and sing about their discoveries. Bunny wonders why they don't have a pet, and, after he explains the concept (an animal you take care of and feed, and it loves you), he and Bear discuss possible candidates. A pinecone? Not an animal. A caterpillar? Not much fun. Soon they find their pet: a small kitty up in a tree. One look at the illustrations will tell kids that this pet is actually a frog, and it's an insight they will definitely want to share. It's hard to explain the charm of Pinkwater's quiet story in terms of its plot, since so much depends upon the well-chosen wording, pacing, and tone of the text. Hillenbrand's mixed-media artwork reflects that understated tone beautifully, while portraying the characters and settings with strength and delicacy. A satisfying choice for reading aloud.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2015 Booklist

Although close friends Bear and Bunny live independently, they decide to acquire a pet together. In a palette of gentle pastels, two benign, softly cartoonish characters move through pages of woodland and meadow, talking and singing, apart and together. Refreshingly, the animals appear equally content whether together or on their own. They sing. "Wandering together / Wandering together / Wandering together to see what we can see." This particular little ditty and its pastoral illustration strongly evoke A.A. Milne's Pooh and Piglet. The youngest readers will be delighted by their own relative sophistication in comparison to the furry friends: "You see, the bear is sure the bunny is a very small bear. The bunny is sure the bear is a very large bunny. This is not so, but it would be too hard to explain it to them. Besides, it doesn't matter." This same humor continues through a discussion about what makes an appropriate pet and on to the friends' eventual choice: a green "kitty" that answers their questions with, "CROAK!" The somewhat lengthy text has a good midpoint for stopping: the first of two naps by the animal friends, before their discussion of pets. The last page of the book is sweet but weak, ending in a conversation; readers may wish that the author had ended with the same narrative voice that so beautifully opens the book. Whimsical, pretty, and endearing. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.