Finding Spring

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 1, 2015

Review

Maurice, the bear cub, is sure that spring is coming and that he can find it if he looks in the right place. Mama tries to convince him that he will find it after his nap, but he is too eager to look, so he slips out after she falls asleep. He checks with the other forest creatures, but they are too busy getting ready for winter, the season that is actually on its way. Maurice finally finds a snowflake and is sure this is a sign of spring (only in Maine, perhaps?). He takes a pile of "spring" home to his cave so that he can show Mama when she wakes up. After a long nap (hibernation), Little Bear wakes up and shows off his spring prize only to find that it is gone. He rushes outside to find the true spring has arrived. A sweet story, great for a spring mix-up story time theme. Berger's fantastic collages will make young readers pause and could be used as a stepping-off point for brainstorming creative uses for old paper. The text is simple and young readers will recognize, and get swept up in, Maurice's enthusiasm. A solid addition to any library collection looking for a good "seasons" book.

Overall Book Score: very good