Bear's lost glasses

Youngest readers generally enjoy knowing something that the hero of a story does not, and Timmers (Kind Crocodile) capitalizes on this pleasure in a work of mixed-up perception about a bear who's lost their spectacles. Not only do readers see the misplaced red glasses right on top of Bear's head, when Bear heads for Giraffe's house to search for the object, the journey reveals several cases of mistaken identity that stem from the animal's unassisted vision. In crisp painted spreads with loads of textural detail, Bear mistakes a leafless tree for an antlered deer, a green hedge for a crocodile, a large rock for an elephant, a flowering bush for a flamingo, and Giraffe's long, reclining form for a snake. Each natural object looks enough like the conjectured creature that Bear's observations feel plausible, and Giraffe stays patient as the pair retrace Bear's steps with glasses firmly in place ("Um, I can't see a flamingo, Bear"). Via this lighthearted handling, readers get to enjoy their own comparative outlook, the silliness of Bear's near-misses, and the satisfaction of a running gag resolved ("GIRAFFE!" says Bear, upon perceiving their friend). Ages 4--6. (Oct.)

Hilarity ensues when a bear "sees" without specs. Where are Bear's glasses? Bear "can't see a thing without them!" Young listeners will notice that the bright red glasses are atop Bear's head and will eagerly cry out to let Bear know. But our hapless friend decides that the glasses are at Giraffe's house and trots over. On the way, Bear passes a large, two-branched tree and misidentifies it as a deer with antlers. Bear also mistakes a low-lying bush for a crocodile, a big boulder for an elephant, and a spindly pink plant for a flamingo. Bear's amazed by these never-before-seen creatures along the path. Bear even assumes that a reclining Giraffe is a snake! When Bear explains the problem, Giraffe "returns" the glasses by removing them from Bear's head. Bear's vindicated, "knowing" they were at Giraffe's house all along, then describes the unusual sights. Giraffe's eager to see them and accompanies Bear, who's now wearing the spectacles. Naturally, neither spots the creatures Bear described. Bear, confused, thinks the glasses are the problem--but now, having removed them, Bear directs Giraffe's attention to three nearby "lions." Moral: Maybe it's better (and more fun) to "see" with the imagination? This comical charmer, originally published in the Netherlands, will engage children as they laughingly correct Bear's misnomers. Set against white backdrops, the caricature-esque illustrations capture the expressive protagonists' close friendship. A humorous, delightful tale about finding wonderful new ways to see the world. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.