Bear's Day Out - Hardcover

In spare, lilting text, a cuddly-looking bear sings to himself as he plays in the waves: "I walk by the sea. / By the sea? / By the sea! / And I play in the waves all day." When the sounds of the city call him, he takes the train, only to find city people rushing around, cars whooshing by, and market vendors shouting. So he runs away to the park where some children find him and take him home "To play in the waves" and "to sing together all day." The simple story line is enlivened by the call-and-response device, and engaging word sounds invite reader participation in a way reminiscent of Rosen's We're Going on a Bear Hunt (1989). The vivid colors exude warmth, and the full-of-life figures capture the whimsical playfulness of the words. "Doo bee doo, bee doodily doo," this is fun through and through. Cummins, Julie