This kids’ book on hygiene and friendship pulls no punches with readers: from sentence number one, Britta Teckentrup makes it obvious that this bear is a filthy, smelly beast who doesn’t care about his hygiene, and his social life proves it: flies are his only friends. But when this bear gets an itch he cannot scratch, no one in the forest (or maybe the whole world) is willing to help him, at least until he takes a bath.

This is a cute and pointed story with pleasant illustrations. With a minimalist’s flair, Teckentrup allows only the occasional bug to ilfiltrate her foregrounds and backgrounds, letting white space focus the reader into the characters’ earth-toned emotional world.

The ultimate theme of this story is friendship, with several lessons of the Bible easily adapted (for Christian readers interested in making spiritual ties).

• First, “A man who has friends must show himself friendly”…and take a bath every once in a while.
  
• Second, in terms of friendship, one must give in order to get, or as Christ put it, “be the servant of all”.
  
• Third, it’s a friendly act to tell others hard truths, at least when it’s done out of love for one another and with the goal of helping the friend along.

This is a good book with lots to teach. Parents and teachers alike should be able to find excellent points of discussion with their kindergarten-aged kids as they enjoy it together.

©2019 E.T.