A Best Friend for Bear by Petr Horáček (review)

Reviewed by: A Best Friend for Bear by Petr Horáček Cassidy Russell Horáček, Petr A Best Friend for Bear; written and illus. by Petr Horáček. Candlewick, 2024 32p Trade ed. ISBN 9781536233995 17. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 3-6 yrs Black Bear and Brown Bear both are having trouble finding a friend, so the two agree to look for one together. While wandering the woods, searching behind shrubs, and helping each other over fallen logs, the bears decide to play hide and seek (in order to further practice looking for a friend, of course). When they briefly lose each other during their game, the bears realize (predictably but nonetheless sweetly) that their new pal has been there the whole time. Horáček's gorgeously scribbled multi-media drawings are textured and inky, creating an almost three-dimensional style. The yellows, greens, and blues of the forest and fields contrast with the black and copper of the two bears, and their expressive faces evoke a range of relatable emotions, from mirthful to worried to surprised. For example, when Brown Bear hides a little too well in the shadows, the poignant moment is beautifully heightened by the world's suddenly darker colors and the pathetic slump of Black Bear's shoulders. The book is both funny and tender, and as the two buddies hold paws to lean over deep ravines and wander through golden butterfly-filled fields, kiddos will enjoy being in on the joke—realizing that the bears have already found what they're looking for, far before the bears do. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois