THE BOOHOO BOOHOO BEAR
by Markedia Alston illustrated by Anastasiya Rudyk
A melodramatic baby bear receives unexpected comfort in this picture book about toddler angst.
When one of the Boohoo Boohoo Bear’s parents leaves for work, the cub is distraught. First, his ears flop down. Then the tears come, and he wails that no one cares about his misery. He stomps around the living room and slumps into a chair, claiming, “I’ll just sit in my DESPAIR.” But his mother has an idea to cheer him up, and soon she’s making a delicious chocolate pie that’s designed to lift her cub’s spirits. She offers it to him with the promise that she will always care when he’s feeling down. While there’s no investigation of why the bear is so unhappy and no grand peek into his feelings, that promise of comfort in the face of sadness does the trick. For parents familiar with toddler tantrums that seem to have no solution, the cub’s wallowing is sure to resonate—as is his mother’s loving decision to produce a tasty pie. Alston’s tale encourages young lap and independent readers to chime in on the large-print words (flop, drip drop, stomp). In addition, the small amount of text on each two-page spread makes the occasional challenging word feel approachable. Rudyk’s bright, digital cartoon illustrations skillfully move the story forward, from introducing the problem in the opening pages to showing the cub’s transition from dismay to delight as soon as the smell of chocolate fills the air.
A sweet, pitch-perfect treat for young readers (and their parents).