Bear, after his first hibernation, awakes hungry. As he searches for food, he remembers the sweet taste of honey from his first year but it’s too soon for honey, even though he diligently follows the bees and regularly checks their tree. The bear enjoys the warmth and feel of spring, the rush of rain, the sweet taste of berries, but he still longs for honey. Finally, the time has come and there is honey, “Warm, golden, sweet, clear, slowly flowing, spicy, aromatic, sparkling with sunlight” just like his memories and his new experiences in the water, air, and meadows of the spring and summer. The summer ends with bear remembering the sweetness of summer - and the taste of honey.
Stein’s swashy, swirling colors show a plump bear amidst the color and verve of spring. Many of the illustrations are set in rough frames, like little glimpses into the bear’s summer adventures. The bees are quick little scribbles of yellow and white wings, the bear a big gray shape with a friendly, sweet look. The pictures slowly shift from the golden-brown vegetation, dusted with snow, left over from winter to the bright green of spring. The greens deepen and the sunlight grows into summer, until it is time for the gold of honey and the soft nights of autumn and blues and browns begin to creep over the landscape.
Verdict: A perfect storytime choice for reading about bears, seasons, or learning to wait patiently, this delightful sequel is a must-have for your library collection.
ISBN: 9781524737863; Published 2018 by Nancy Paulsen/Penguin; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library
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