Some Days Are Lonely

K-Gr 2—A small bear wanders through a dreary landscape, describing feelings of extreme loneliness. After extensive contemplation, the cub meets a frog with a rainbow umbrella and remembers that "dark clouds can lift from the skies and can lift from my heart, too." Originally published in Korean, the text is poetic in a naive sort of way: "Like cotton dipped in water, my heart feels damp." The crayon/Photoshop illustrations show a sweet orangey-brown bear whose expressions and body language convey changing moods. The landscape and weather alter to represent emotions as well. No reason is ever offered for the bear's loneliness or recovery; perhaps the point is that the reason does not matter. Back matter includes a spread of extension activities for children that invite them to draw on the pages (no good for libraries), and a long note to parents from a well-known psychologist. It includes background information on the emotion of loneliness and suggests strategies for helping a lonely child; the writing is somewhat belabored, but the content is useful. This book has obviously been published with bibliotherapeutic intentions, and that is its best use. It might also be welcome in collections focusing on emotional intelligence.—Heidi Estrin, Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL