Because You Are My Friend

PreS-K—Snowy is a polar bear whose best friend is his mother. When she decides that her cub needs to branch out, she encourages him to approach other Arctic creatures. He meets a disinterested seagull, an overeager seal, and a troop of enthusiastic but bickering penguins, and none of them seems like playmate material. After enjoying a quick slide down an obliging old walrus's back, Snowy takes a break from searching, only to be discovered by another polar bear, also in search of a friend. What follows is a two-page playdate montage complete with illustrations of games like "Leap-Bear." Van Genechten's artwork combines ink drawings with a white, pink, and blue palette to achieve a cheerful, nonthreatening environment. Snowy's fur has a fuzzy, textured feel. While this story isn't remarkable, children will relate to the need for encouragement when braving the world of potential playmates. This is a supplemental purchase for libraries wanting winter friendship books to add to the typical lovey-dovey Valentine's Day fare.—Jenna Boles, Washington-Centerville Public Library, OH