Kuma-Kuma Chan's travels

PreS-Gr 2-Kuma-Kuma Chan returns in Takahashi's third book in the series. Here, the adorable little bear takes readers along on his journey to a tropical island, where he listens to the ocean waves, takes a nap on the beach, and drinks coffee while watching the sunrise from a mountaintop. However, children quickly discover that Kuma-Kuma Chan mixes the real with the imagined. While he loves traveling and has all the gear imaginable for a great adventure, including binoculars, a bathing suit, chocolate, and scotch tape, his journeys occur in his head. He does not physically go to a tropical island. Rather, he daydreams about it from the comforts of his home. Kuma-Kuma Chan's active imagination allows him to time-travel and dream of being a tiger. The sparsely illustrated pages and pastel watercolors delicately illuminate his visions. -VERDICT This sweet story filled with charm and wonder will transport young readers. It is a delightful celebration of the power of imagination and wanderlust.-Maegen Rose, Collegiate School, New York City © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kuma-Kuma Chan continues in his life of peaceful solitude, even when he travels. Fans of Takahashi's little bear may be surprised when they think of this meditative character on the go, but in keeping with his usual contemplativeness, his travels are in his mind. He thinks about, dreams about, and writes about great adventureseven ones in which he's a tiger or he goes back in timewithout leaving the comfort of his little house in the mountains. The narrator (depicted from behind as an adult man) confides in readers that Kuma-Kuma Chan sends him travel notes but he can't read them because the bear writes fast and messily, so he has to imagine how his travels are going. But he tells readers about Kuma-Kuma Chan's travels in a satisfyingly repetitive rhythm of big, exciting adventures that he then humorously reframes in a much smaller and calmer setting. The illustrations are wonderful simplified shapes and are done in sweet pastels that visually reinforce the quiet world of this charming little bear. Though it's the third book in the series, it stands alone, but it's a great reason to check out the other two. A delightful, engaging book for a broad audience, an effective form of stress reduction, and a catalyst for readers' own imaginary travelsall in an irresistibly wee package (Picture book. 5-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.