Forever

PreS—A large polar bear plays, chases, and snuggles with a cub across Arctic backgrounds as rhyming text explains, "I do my best to cheer you up/when you are feeling down…/to see if I can make you smile/and smooth away your frown." As the bears travel across ice and water, the adult is always near and reminds the youngster, "no matter what may come as/we journey on together…I will love you forever." This gentle story will appeal to adults who want to reassure their children that they will always be safe and cared for. The beautiful digital illustrations are minimal but expressive, with the cub's worry or joy made evident with a few lines. The cartoon-style animals are appealing, and the backdrops, of the tundra, a sky full of stars, and the colorful aurora borealis, enhance the story while providing information about the real environment of polar bears. The text is not particularly original, but it describes well the things a parent wants to say to a child. Perfect for one-on-one sharing or a storytime read-aloud.—Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT