BeeBear 2

PreS—Bee and Bear's everyday adventures and considerations are chronicled in poetic form. Many of the poems compare the experiences of the two creatures in light of their dramatically different sizes. In "Bike," Bee and Bear ride a bicycle built for two—Bear fits nicely and enjoys the ride, while Bee can't reach the pedals and has no view at all. In "Hockey," the two discover that their opposing statures do not make for a great match. Other poems concern random, homey moments, such as watching the sunset, going to the beach, or dreaming in Bear's lair. On the plus side, the illustrations are skillfully created in a sketchy watercolor and digital style. The humor comes through in the facial expressions. Unfortunately, the poems are mediocre; meter varies in quality. While the format and art style would suggest a young audience, some of the humor and vocabulary seem better suited for an older audience. The wandering and arbitrary subject matter of the poems weakened the cohesiveness of the collection.—Diane McCabe, John Muir Elementary, Santa Monica, CA