Opening Up: A Visitor for Bear by Bonnie Becker

No one ever came to Bear's House. It had always been that way, and Bear was quite sure he didn't like visitors. He even had a sign:

NO VISITORS ALLOWED.

Bonnie Becker's Bear in her new A Visitor for Bear is the poster child for solitary, set-in-their-ways old bachelor bears. Bear is tediously fond of his fusty daily routines, and on one cool autumn morning, as he happily contemplates his breakfast ritual, he is interrupted by the unwelcome sound of tap-tap-tapping at the door and a small, and gray and bright-eyed mouse outside. "Go away," Bear said, pointing to the sign.

Back in the kitchen, Bear resolutely gets with his program again.

He set out one cup and a spoon. But when he opened the cupboard to get one bowl, there was a mouse, small and gray and bright-eyed. "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE!" said Bear.

"Perhaps we could have just a spot of tea!" ventures the mouse.

"OUT!" bellows Bear.

"Most sorry," said Mouse. "I will be going now."

Bear goes back to assembling his meal, but when he opens the bread drawer to get out one slice for his toast, there is Mouse, bright-eyed as usual. "Unbelievable," said Bear. "AWAY with you! VAMOOSE!" "Yes, thank you. Here I go!" responds Mouse agreeably.

Bear trudges around his cottage, locking the doors and windows. Then, certain that there will be no more visitations, he opens his fridge to get out one egg, only to find the mouse inside. "A crackling fire?" suggests the mouse politely. "Impossible, Intolerable, insufferable," Bear storms out. "Terribly sorry," Mouse apologizes. "Now you see me, now you don't."

Bear scurries around, boarding up windows, blocking the chimney, and even stoppering the bathtub drain. At last he returns to his woefully delayed breakfast, checking the cupboard, bread drawer, and fridge first. "Mousefree. Yes, indeed." Bear exults and at last lifts the lid to his teakettle.

And there was the mouse, small, and gray, and, well, you know the rest. Bear fell to the floor and wept.

"I give up. You win. I am undone."

"So sorry," said the mouse, "but perhaps if I could just have a bit of cheese and a cup of tea--and do you think we could unstop the chimney and have a nice fire?"

Some friendships, it seems, are just meant to be. As the two warm before the fire and sip their tea in amiable quiet, Bear realizes that he is enjoying the company. "The fire is nice," said Bear. After a bit he adds, "I can do a headstand." "Very impressive," says Mouse attentively.

His cup empty, Mouse keeps his part of the deal and prepares to be on his way. Surprised at himself, Bear pleads,

"Don't go! That sign is for salesmen, NOT FRIENDS. "One lump or two?"

"TWO," says Mouse.

And two it is from here on for this delightful odd couple. Kady MacDonald Denton's soft ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations gently but tellingly delineate these two diverse characters, as Bear's bulky body language subtly reveals his change of heart toward his unlikely new companion, and along with Becker's just-right text, A Visitor for Bear introduces a brand-new pair of memorable picture-book friends.