I SEE YOU, SAD BEAR

A kind friend helps by recognizing a friend’s sadness.

Bear is a solitary, unhappy, small figure against a backdrop of lively playgrounds, streets, and skylines that suggest a New York setting. An antlered friend notices and asks gently, “Sad Bear, why are you so sad?” Maybe it’s because of a dropped ice cream cone, a lost balloon, cold, wet weather, or a forgotten birthday. Maybe something was broken accidentally or a special tree was chopped down. Or “maybe it’s because the world is such a big place, and you are only a little bear. Or maybe there is no reason at all. You are just simply sad.” There might be solutions; in several sunny pages the deer shares some ice cream, helps track down the lost balloon, and gathers friends for a party. The pair plant some seeds and find indoor adventure on a rainy day.  “But, Sad Bear, if after all, you still feel a little blue,” says the deer reassuringly, “it’s okay. I understand. Sometimes I get sad too.” The message that it’s OK to grapple with difficult feelings—and that they’re something we all deal with sometimes—is conveyed with admirable simplicity. The details of the city with animal denizens and amusing alternate versions of Times Square and the Statue of Liberty are funny and sweet. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Gracefully understated and understanding, for Sad Bears and their friends, too.