• Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2019 June #1
  Bear and Spider (who became friends in 2018's Bear's Scare) don't always agree on what activities to share. Spider makes a kite to fly with Bear, but Bear prefers to stay indoors. When the kite gets blown away, Bear reluctantly agrees to help look for it. Together they go into the forest, which Bear dislikes because of the "itchy plants," "pesky bugs," and "yucky weeds." Even Spider's enthusiasm is dampened by a sudden downpour, and when Bear trips over a rock and falls, the friends are ready to give up. In light of Spider's disappointment, however, Bear persists. The rain stops, and they spot the kite stuck in a tree. Digitally colored charcoal, crayon, and ink illustrations capture the characters' range of emotions. Although Spider's only facial features are his eyes, those circles manage to convey excitement, anxiety, sadness, and anticipation. This affirming story of friendship includes themes of kindness and perseverance, subtly promoting an appreciation of the outdoors as Bear realizes it's not so bad "out there." Preschool-Grade 2. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

Jacob Grant is the author and illustrator of Bear's Scare, Scaredy Kate, Little Bird's Bad Word, Cat Knit, and Through the Zoo. He is a winner of the annual Don Freeman Work In-Progress Grant by the SCBWI. Jacob lives in Chicago with his family.

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