Not So Bare Bear: Bear in Long Underwear by Todd H. Doodler

Bear and his friends are inside drinking hot chocolate.

Bear is feeling cozy, but a little cooped up from being inside all day.

He looks out and says, "The snow has stopped falling. Who wants to go outside and play in the snow?"

In no time the whole gang, Bear, Skunk, Rabbit, Turtle, and Hedgie, are bundled up and romping in the snow. They decide to build a really great snowman, and soon they step back to evaluate their work.

"You call that a snowman?" says Bear. "He needs clothes."

Quickly Bear adds his own hat to the snowman's head. But something is still lacking, his friends suggest, and Bear proceeds to add his scarf to the snowman's neck. But he's still chilly-looking, and cool is apparently not cool for this snowman, so Bear then adds his snow pants and his warm jacket. But does that leave him standing in the snow in his trademark whitie tighties?

Well, no. Bear has obviously planned ahead, in the latest in Todd H. Doodler's popular Bear in Underwear series, titled Bear In Long Underwear (Blue Apple Books, 2011). With his characteristic deadpan wit and flat, bright acrylic illustrations that feature sly visual humor on each page, this bear in his natty red union suit is dressed just right for the occasion.

As Publishers Weekly says,"Toddlers should continue to find Doodler’s lovably dim cartoon animals and deadpan humor—and, of course, the underwear theme—irresistible."

Warm Smiles: The Smiley Snowman by M. Christina Butler

THE SNOWMAN WAS NEARLY FINISHIED. LITTLE BEAR AND SMALL FOX LIFTED A BIG SNOWBALL ONTO HIS HUGE BODY.

"MY TURN!" CRIED FLUFFY BUNNY. "LET ME HELP."

"HERE WE GO," CRIED LITTLE BEAR, LIFTING HIM UP, AND FLUFFY GAVE THE SNOWMAN A GREAT BIG SMILE.

Small Fox, Little Bear, and Fluffy Bunny are so proud of their fine snowman, smiling and sparkling in the late evening light. But when they return the next day, there has been a big change in their new friend.

THE NEXT MORNING THE NEW SNOW SPARKLED BRIGHT, BUT THE SNOWMAN LOOKED SAD AND SHIVERY.

"HE LOOKS COLD TO ME," SAID LITTLE BEAR.

Little Bear offers his scarf, and Fluffy Bunny even drags his own blanket up the hill to wrap the snowman up even more snugly, right up to his pebble eyes. There!

But the next morning finds the snowman looking even sadder!

DRIP! DRIP! DRIP!

M. Christina Butler's The Smiley Snowman (Good Books, 2010) is a humorous look at how three very young friends discover their own questionable version of the laws of thermodynamics as applied to snowmen. The three soon figure out an alternative scientific solution:

"MORE SNOW!"

That and a big group hug restore the snowman's broad smile in this pleasantly cozy little winter's tale, amplified by Tim McNaughton's pretty wintry palette brightened by plenty of sparkles. A nice addition to any snowtime storytime.