Someday

K-Gr 2--In a conversation that leaves the gender of a small black bear indeterminate, they say they want to be like "Mommy," and the mother answers back a list of all the things they, too, will do "someday": grow strong, be courageous, live independently, find a partner, maybe have cubs of their own. But first, she reminds the little bear, they should enjoy their time together before all that growing up. The story is a standard mother/child inspirational text. The illustrations are rich spreads, beautifully depicting the animals and their environment, with a concise text smartly placed into the layout. Colors are warm and dynamic. The bears' lustrous black fur contrasts sharply with red berries and fall leaves. VERDICT A sweet addition to large collections, and a reminder that right now is just as good as someday.--Chance Lee Joyner

Follow a mother bear and cub as they spend a day in the woods and the cub learns about life. Like most parents, Mommy Bear wishes the best for her cub--strength, courage, perseverance in the face of adversity, and future loving companions. Someday. But now is the time for the mother and cub to make memories of berry feasts, swims, and snuggles. Their day is idyllic as they roam, lounge, play, and finally sleep. The illustrations include other animal parent-child units out and about, too. Early in the story, Mommy Bear compares her cub to a sapling growing into a tree, and trees, in various forms and from different perspectives, figure prominently in the soothing illustrations. The dark bears with crisp contours stand out against a variety of soft pastel nature scenes. Tree limbs often flow across the page and subtly underscore the go-with-the-flow attitude of the bears' day. However, the leaves in fall flame hues, which add splashes of color to most illustrations, seem incongruously tiny given the small size of the cub. This quiet, philosophical read-aloud is just right for nap time. Given that Mommy Bear is the picture of relaxed parenting, it's also an ideal gift to remind new mothers or mothers-to-be to savor each day with their child as well as a wonderful Mother's Day present. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sweet parent-child relationship laced with lessons about enjoying today while also looking ahead to the future. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.