A Brave Bear
Publisher: Walker Books
The sun is too hot for the bear and his dad, so they set off to the river to cool down. On the way, there are scraped knees and a bruised ego - but when dad offers to give his little one a carry, the little bear is determined to be brave.
The two hot bears play in the river, and return home as the sun sets, with the promise of another wonderful day together.
Sean Taylor's gentle text is given extra warmth through Emily Hughes's enchanting illustrations. The soft palette and pencil details make each spread a real treat for the eyes. The mountainscape dwarfs the adorable brave bear amongst the beautiful flora and fauna of the natural world.
A book for families, for dads and for illustration fans, this is in the same territory as the phenomenally successful Guess How Much I Love You, but with a subtler sentimentality that might appeal to a new generation of parents.