The day is filled with fun and love for a big brown bear and his golden cub as they demonstrate their mutual devotion in many ways as they explore the natural world around them.

From the silvery flecks that glisten on the trees to the romantic blue moon and a dandelion whose gossamer-like florets are gently being blown away in the breeze, this gorgeous tall-format book entices with its gentle charms before you even open its pages.

The classic storybook pairing of big old daddy bear (or, of course, mama) and playful cub provides the perfect opportunity to explore the parent-child bond. Set amid their natural setting of woodlands, the natural world provides ample opportunities for Big Bear to profess his love, comparing it the bountiful wonders around them in a poetic rhyming narrative.

How does Bear love his cub? Let us count the ways. More than flowers love to blossom and bloom, more than waterfalls love to splash, and more than the stars like to sparkle in the sky. And his bear cub revels in the warmth of all this affection

The wonderfully reassuring words of the text provide comforting words for toddlers who enjoy elaborate expressions of devotion and to know that they are very loved indeed.

Lambert’s collage-like illustrations give wonderful texture and movement to the creatures and wildlife – there are skipping bunnies, dancing foxes and swirling fishes – while the relationship of the two main protagonists, big and small, is depicted with a warmth and tenderness that will make you smile.

And make you want to give your little cub a big bear hug!

Fun fact In 1902, US President Theodore Roosevelt, also known as Teddy Roosevelt, was out hunting but refused to kill a captured bear cub, declaring the behavior of the other hunters “unsportsmanlike“. As news of the hunting trip spread, newspapers around the country featured political cartoons starring “Teddy” and “the bear.” In Brooklyn, New York, a shop owner named Morris Michtom saw one of the cartoons and created plush, stuffed bears with permissiom from Roosevelt to call them “Teddy bears.” They were an instant success. President Roosevelt even used the teddy bear as his mascot when he ran for re-election.

Did you know? Some species of bears, including Asiatic bears, sun bears, spectacled bears and even black bears, make nests in trees! They bend down tree branches and make sitting areas that look much bird nests. Some bears will sleep in these nests while others will just hide or eat in them.

Illustrator notes Jonny Lambert grew up in Surrey and always knew he wanted to be an artist. Encouraged by his art tutor at the Reigate School of Art and Design, Jonny is now an artist of many sorts: a talented illustrator with over 300 titles to his name, designer, paper engineer and most recently, Group Design Director at Templar Publishing. Living with his wife, daughter and a menagerie of animals in West Sussex, Jonny is inspired by everything around him. His advice to aspiring artists is to believe in your own talents, be open to all stimuli, continue to learn, share your knowledge once experience has honed it and, finally, don’t tell people what you can do… show them.
Author notes Born and raised in Chicago, Nicky Benson studied Communication at Northern Illinois University where she met her husband. Nothing makes Nicky happier than spending time with family and friends, rummaging through a flea market, and cuddling in a book nook with her son, Drew.