Bear just wants to have fun in the sun with his friends, but a noise startles him and he decides to figure out where it's coming from. Bear gathers his friends along the way, to help him find out what's making the noise. Young readers are introduced (or re-introduced) to mouse, raven, wren, badger, and many more friends. It's an adorable stpry that focuses on shyness, and how much fun you can have when you decide to "come out of hiding" and play with new friends. The book focuses on kindness and including all those around you. ( )

Bear's new friend turns out to be a shy (burrowing?) owl. ( )

I liked this book because it is about being new and different in a strange place. It is about accepting someone that is new and becoming friends with them. This is a good book for teaching children about how scary being different can be, while teaching them about acceptance and kindness. ( )

bear and his friends found a hole in the ground and are trying to figure out who lives in the hole. they finally figure out that owl is living in the hole. they all become friends.
4 books

Bear’s New Friend
By Karma Wilson (2009)

I liked Bear’s New Friend by Karma Wilson for three reasons. First, I liked Wilson’s ability to rhyme throughout the book. For example, “…there’s a clatter in the tree! Oh, what could it be?” Tree and be rhyme. In addition, “Who’s hiding up there? Perhaps it is the Hare?” There and hare rhyme. Thus, readers can see Wilson’s talent within her writing. The second thing I liked was the repetition present in the story. Specifically, Wilson repeats the phrase, “And the bear asks, 'Who'?” five times. By repeating this phrase, readers can clearly understand how curious the bear is to find out who is making noises. Finally, I liked how Wilson introduced readers to strange animals, for instance, a hare, gopher, mole, badger, raven, and a wren. In my opinion, the animals presented are not children’s ‘favorites,’ so this book expands reader’s knowledge about animals. Overall, the “big idea” of Bear’s New Friend is to keep your mind open, and welcome new friends, regardless of the circumstances. ( )