Archie and the Bear by Zanni Louise, David Mackintosh
Published by Clarion Books on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1328973417
Pages: 32
Goodreads

Archie and the Bear is a charming story of identity, cooperation, and ultimately friendship. The boy, Archie, wears a bear suit and believes he is a bear. The bear believes he is a boy and wears a sweater. After their meeting in the forest, they walk together, eat honey sandwiches and learn how to do bear and boy things. Ultimately they share their homes with each other and settle down under a cozy quilt to stop the shivers. A lovely example of imaginary play.

With the whimsical artwork of illustrator David Mackintosh, this book will appeal to preschoolers three to five years of age. The colors are on the cool side, reflecting the winter setting. The text is large enough for prereaders to follow along with.  This title is only available in hardcover and considering the target audience, it would be better suited in board book form. 

Overall, Archie and the Bear would be a quality addition to any library collection.

Reviewed by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library