The Bear's Sea Escape

PreS-Gr 2—Just when Papa Bear thinks he can finally take his winter nap, Baby Bear is suddenly snatched away and Papa must embark on a daring chase to recover him. The story picks up where where The Bear's Song (Chronicle, 2013) left off. The journey takes them from bustling Paris to an underwater world and finally to an island paradise. The familiar narrative arc begins with an unexpected mistake, and the excitement continues to build until the end of the chase, where Papa and Baby are reunited in a satisfying conclusion. Although the story feels far-fetched compared to the previous book, its fans will surely love the main attraction here—the enchanting full-page artwork in an oversized format. Chaud's vibrant spreads are full of fanciful details and visual narratives for youngsters to explore. Particularly striking are the views of the underwater world, with realistic reefs and fish rendered in bold, saturated hues and the occasional addition of magical elements, such as mermaids. The author employs a painterly palette of vivid colors that are particularly well produced on high-quality printed pages. Chaud has established a recognizable visual style all his own, yet the wavy motion of the landscape and sketchy quality of the figures call to mind the work of Dr. Seuss. The unobtrusive text below the pictures will serve as an excellent read-aloud for storytime. Overall, the book is engaging, and the artwork makes it even more of a gem.—Tara Kron, School Library Journal