Bear for a day

In a classroom presentation turned picture book from Tabor (Cranky, Crabby Crow), one creative storyteller--a pale-skinned student ID'd by their notebook as "Corey Tabor"--delivers a subversively comedic report on living for one day as a bear. Rather than offering facts pertaining to the natural world, though, the presenter narrates a surprisingly human-like day-in-the-life--the furry brown mammal wears pajamas and clothes, and brushes teeth for "one hundred and twenty Mississippis"--while incorporating fanciful elements such as the bear's befriending a troublemaking mouse. Classmates interject with incredulous protests: "Bears don't wear clothes!" But the undaunted child persists in describing an increasingly elaborate day featuring motorcycle rides, lunch at a panda-run mall restaurant, the appearance of a suit-wearing elephant, and a dramatic hot air balloon rescue. Digitally finished ursine's-eye view artwork depicts each scenario with instructional seriousness throughout panels rendered in the creator's signature style. And a deadpan delivery gradually transforms the skeptical spectators into enthusiastic participants; at report's end, they demand more details, then beg for an encore "with more elephants!" It's a read for every kid who's turned homework into performance art--and the audience that cheers them on. Ages 4--8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (May)

Motorcycles and bears--two very different things that somehow go great together. "If I were a bear for a day," the book begins, "my name would be Bear." A pair of sleepy eyes open, and readers see the world from the perspective of a thoroughly civilized, mechanically inclined ursine protagonist. "I would eat breakfast…and wonder where my best friend, Mouse, had gone off to," continues our narrator. "Well, I'd better go find him, I would think." That means hopping on a motorcycle and going into town. Mouse is nowhere in sight, until an unseen character listening to this tale (and who's been interrupting periodically) suggests that hot-air balloons could play a role, and voilà! Bear finds Mouse hanging off a rope dangling from a balloon, requiring a daring rescue. Eventually, we learn that our narrator is, in fact, a tan-skinned child named Corey who's been delivering a class report (as racially diverse classmates interject suggestions and criticisms). Visually, the book adopts a distinct point of view in much the same way that Chris Raschka did withNew Shoes (2018). Youngsters get to fully experience the bear's motorcycle adventures, leaning into curves on picturesque highways and byways. The twin fantasies of beardom and cycle glory pair shockingly well together, helped in no small part by Tabor's inventive framing and gently beautiful art of rolling hills and epic skies. Better than virtual reality, this is one trip begging to be taken on repeat.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.