OLD BOB’S BROWN BEAR
by Niki Daly & illustrated by Niki Daly
Proclaiming that as a child he’s never had a teddy bear to love, Old Bob is surprised with the gift of a brand-new bear on his birthday. Watching as he stows the new stuffed animal on a shelf between musty books, Emma is able to persuade her grandfather to part with him for a while. A small vacation quickly stretches into several years, as Emma and Teddy become fast friends and Emma continues to insist on keeping him. After many excursions to the beach, tea parties, countless bubble baths, and the love that only a small child can bestow on a stuffed animal, Emma has finally moved on to other interests. At last she’s ready to return Teddy to Old Bob who welcomes the now threadbare toy with open arms. Burying his face into the soft and fuzzy fur, Old Bob can smell something wonderful. Somewhere deep beneath the scent of sunscreen, fruit juice, and bubble bath, “Old Bob could smell lots and lots of . . . love!” Softly smudged watercolor paintings capture all of the moments of child and bear together as well as the tender relationship between grandfather and granddaughter. Young readers will want to bring a stuffed friend along when reading this one. (Picture book. 3-6)