Bear and Duck are Friends

April 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 Bear and Duck may be friends, but they don't always think alike. While little Duck is enthusiastic about trying new things, big Bear is more cautious, remembering times when new activities ended with bumps and crashes. Now Duck is excited to invite Bear to join his dance class on "bring-a-friend day." Initially elated, Bear agrees, but then anxiety sets in. Duck reassures him, but in class, "Bear fumbled and stumbled. He slipped and he tripped, landing right on his nose." Duck coaxes Bear to try again by standing, closing his eyes, listening, and moving with the music. Suddenly, Bear is dancing! And the next day, when Duck invites Bear to join his swimming class, Bear shouts, "Yes!" DeGennaro's inviting narrative creates the characters, defines their personalities, and sends Bear into another potentially embarrassing situation, which he handles bravely with help from Duck. A few rhyming phrases pop up as lively additions to the text. In the expressive illustrations, the two lovable main characters stand out clearly against white backgrounds. An appealing and ultimately joyous read-aloud choice.

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May 1, 2024
Sometimes, all you need is a supportive pal. Bear and Duck are besties. Duck's enthusiastic about trying new things; Bear...not so much. Though larger than his feathered friend, Bear prefers sitting on the sidelines, listening to Duck wax lyrical about taking part in new activities. Bear tries, too, but he's klutzy and usually falls down. (He's better at napping.) Duck invites Bear to join his dance class on "bring-a-friend-day." At first Bear's pumped, but when he arrives at the studio, he confesses that he's scared. Ever-supportive Duck reassures Bear that they'll take things one step at a time--literally. Duck and the other dancers trip the light fantastic; Bear just trips. He's ready to give up, but when Duck reminds him that he's not alone and advises him to close his eyes and "feel the music," things improve; turns out Bear's a great dancer after all. The next day, Duck invites Bear to be his plus one at swimming class. Guess who can't wait to dive right in? This sweet, simply told Australian import emphasizes the importance of offering unwavering support and lets kids know that they can boost others' spirits. Children will feel buoyed by these pals. Visible pencil strokes give the softly rendered illustrations a cozy feeling; the winsome protagonists look almost like stuffed toys. An adorable, cheery friendship tale. (Picture book. 4-7)

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