This tender and moving story about growing up and expanding friendships displays the beautiful relationship between mother and child. Snowy and his mommy are best friends; they do everything together, just the two of them. Little by little, Snowy is growing up, and one day mommy teaches him a new game: making friends. Brave and full of heart, Snowy sets off in hopes someone might like to be his friend. Along the way he meets a cast of many strangers, including an unfriendly sea gull, a playful seal, a bunch of quarreling penguins, an old walrus, and a young polar bear. The soft fleece coating on Snowy and his new-found friend, and the many comforting illustrations of this gentle story convey the true meaning of friendship and love.
A bear's best friend is his Mommy, until he's old enough to find his own.
When Snowy the polar bear is a cub, he and his Mommy do everything together, playing and fishing and snuggling late at night in their cave. But one day, when he is old enough, Mommy tells Snowy that it's time to find a new friend. He tries a giant sea gull, a seal swimming under the ice and a long line of tottering penguins, none of whom prove to be a good match. The penguins all want to be Snowy's friend and begin a loud squabbling that drives Snowy away. The venerable walrus is almost just right—he lets Snowy slide down his back—but declares himself too old to be any fun for a young bear. Then, unexpectedly, when he's just resting against a snowdrift, Snowy is approached shyly by another young polar bear named Spotty. At the exact same moment, they both ask, "Would you like to be my friend?" And this, of course, is the perfect match. Van Genechten's characters look like stuffed animals, smiling and gentle. He uses backgrounds of baby blue and pink, dotted with flakes of snow. And Snowy is flocked, like wallpaper, for a little extra reader appeal.
It's certainly accessible for very young children, but it carries an odd message: Should we be friends only with those exactly like us? (Picture book. 3-5)
Overview
This tender and moving story about growing up and expanding friendships displays the beautiful relationship between mother and child. Snowy and his mommy are best friends; they do everything together, just the two of them. Little by little, Snowy is growing up, and one day mommy teaches him a new game: making friends. Brave and full of heart, Snowy sets off in hopes someone might like to be his friend. Along the way he meets a cast of many strangers, including an unfriendly sea gull, a playful ...