Hello, friends! Our book today is Little Bear And His Chair, written by Claressa Swensen and illustrated by Alena Paklina, a sweet tale about the benefits of sharing.

Little Bear has a favorite chair, a special place where he likes to sit, relax, and feel calm. In fact, he loves his chair so much that he tells all his other animal friends to stay away, and even puts up signs – no one else is allowed to sit there! That is, until the day that Ryan the Lion, tired from walking, sits for just a few moments to rest his feet… in Bear’s chair! Little Bear yells at Ryan, and sends him off in tears. When the other animals hear about this, they decide not to spend time with Little Bear anymore; what kind of friend cares more about a chair? Feeling remorseful for yelling at his friend, and realizing how lonely being so selfish can be, Little Bear begins to wonder what’s more important: protecting his chair, or protecting his friendships.

Very sweet. This indie title thrives in its simplicity: a classic story of sharing and of being a good friend, some absolutely darling storybook illustrations with charmingly cute characters, and text that is perfect for beginner bookworms. There’s nothing here that really breaks the mold, but it doesn’t have to: the message is timeless, and the story will delight any young reader. There are a few narrative missteps, such as one case of an abrupt change in narrative perspective, and it would have been nice if Ryan and Little Bear’s relationship had been established before their falling out (it’s mentioned that they are best friends, but not until after their confrontation). But overall, this a cute story with a great length and pacing, and JJ liked it a lot. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)