This is the Bear    by Sarah Hayes & Helen Craig Order:  USA  Can Candlewick, 1994 (1986) Paperback     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson This is the story of a bear's day out, told in rhyme, along the lines of This is the House that Jack Built. In this case, a boy's stuffed animal, a beloved bear called Fred, falls in a bin (an English dustbin, which is the same as the N. American garbage can), with a little help from the family dog. Off he goes to the dump, with his owner in hot pursuit ... 'This is the boy who took the bus and went to the dump to make a fuss.' Of course Fred is rescued, again with a little help from the dog, who finds him while sniffing for a bone, which is his well earned reward. It's a charming tale that reflects the love children have for their night time talismans, especially teddy bears. They are anxious when Fred is lost, cheer on the boy's search for him, and sympathize with the brave little bear's newly discovered love of adventure. When asked if he is all right, 'the bear gave a shout, "How soon can we have another day out?"' Note that there is a Spanish version, Yo Soy El Oso and several additional episodes like This is the Bear and the Picnic Lunch and This is the Bear and the Scary Night - so it looks like Fred did get his wish for more adventure. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews