Bound To Stay Bound

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Bulletin for the Center... - 09/02/2012 Bear lives alone in a cave “just big enough for him.” One morning, he finds a carrot left outside his cave’s mouth; the next morning, there are two carrots, the next, three, the next, a big pile, leaving the bear utterly delighted (“Someone must like me to leave these good things!”). In turn, he leaves a honeycomb, which elicits a flower in response; then he leaves blueberries, for which he receives a cookie, and so on, but every time he tries to catch a glimpse of the secret giver, he fails. Eventually, though, the bear and his secret friend, a wee rabbit, finally meet, and after a bit of initial misunderstanding (“You are quite the big strong bunny,” says the rabbit to the bear admiringly) become happy pals. Daniel Pinkwater hasn’t previously been famous for stories of cozy charm, but this friendship tale has cozy charm in spades; the gift-exchange plot is sweet, and the bear’s unassuming, childlike dialogue and taste for singing little songs to himself will win young listeners (and remind them of Winnie-the-Pooh). Hillenbrand opts for a subtler palette than usual, with pale gestural smudges of trees in the backgrounds; the starring bear is a soft, warm cream accented with smudgy strokes of shadow that give him just enough impact to gently stand out. He’s particularly endearing as he walks the line between actuality, toy, and cartoon, prancing happily through the woods on his hind legs one moment and curling up for a snooze in his cave the next. Despite the title, the bear and bunny relationship seems quite platonic, but audiences will delight in the playfulness of their growing friendship. DS - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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