When You Meet a Bear on Broadway - Hardcover

*Starred Review* Written as an advice book of sorts, this whimsical title offers suggestions about what to do if you run into the scenario named in the book’s title. The bear in question is, as depicted in the ink-and-wash illustrations, a clear stand-in for a preschooler: a small cub who cries for his lost mother. A young girl on the streets of Manhattan tries to help: “How does your mama look, Little Bear?” “How does your mama sing?” At last, the girl takes Little Bear to a park, where he climbs a tree, shouts for his mama, and, miraculously, is heard. The bear’s sweet reunion isn’t the only one, though. The closing page advises, “Run! On the wings of the wind. All the way home. To tell your mama everything that happened on this crispy-cold day.” The final spread shows the girl racing toward her mother, who stands at the door with open arms. The repetitive beat in the sly, humorous words makes this a perfect read-aloud, although the irresistible nuances in Savadier’s artwork, including the body language between girl and bear as she comforts him, are best viewed at close range. Young children will recognize the thrill of an independent adventure, the drama of being lost, and the reassuring joy of being found. Preschool-Grade 1. --Gillian Engberg