I've had my annual sinus infection for the last two weeks, and I was actually going for a general "sniffles" theme. I was amazed that there are three good story-time appropriate books featuring sick bears. I suppose I shouldn't have been, and I couldn't resist the wordplay.
Sneeze, Big Bear, Sneeze!
Maureen Wright, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780761459590
Bear is wandering the fall woods, and the personified Wind is messing with his mind by blowing things away every time he sneezes. Poor bear insists that it's his sneezes, and tries to fix the damage (tacking leaves back on trees with hammer and nails, stacking fallen apples on branches) while the Wind grows more and more upset with him, finally chasing him back to his cozy den.
Bear Feels Sick
Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
ISBN: 9780689859854
I love all of these books, Chapman's illustrations and Wilson's rhymes just fit so perfectly together into a happy warm fuzzy place where nothing bad ever happens. In this one, Bear is, obviously, sick, and his friends pull together to help him feel better. In the end, Bear is better, but the friends have all caught the bug, and now need care themselves.
The Sniffles for Bear
Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
ISBN: 9780763647568
Poor bear here looks almost rat-like at times, with his dolorous red schnozz and his weakly curled hands as fate and illness are bemoaned and overacted. I'm just tickled by the pictures. This Bear is DRAMATICALLY SICK. Perhaps DYING. Unfortunately, mouse is not suitably impressed by this terrible news, and insists on mundane comforting advice and companionship. What's a drama-bear to do? Perhaps DIE... or maybe just a nap. The ending here, like Bear Feels Sick, makes a point that the caretakers usually end up sick themselves, just when the sick-ee is feeling better.
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