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On Picture Books

 Richard Jones's "Little Bear" is about a courageous boy. The boy discovers a marble-sized living polar bear in his garden, and he chooses to become a parent to this polar bear. He plays with the bear; he stores the bear in his pocket. He makes the difficult choice to travel to the Arctic--because he understands that the bear is destined for "wider circles."


The voyage to the Arctic is difficult. Waves toss the boat in the air. Seals are tempting companions--but you don't want to fall overboard. There is also just the passage of time; you're far from your television; you have your bear and your occasional visitor birds for company.

Having arrived at the Arctic, having completed his mission, the little boy dies. That's how I choose to read the story. If it's an allegory of life, then think about what happens after you have completed your major tasks. You die. The boy feels sad to say goodbye--but he is aware that the bear is now with his own kind, and the North Pole is not a great spot for a human being to build a home.

My daughter is always startled when the boy says goodbye; I can tell that this moment bothers her. That's why I think the book is valuable; it raises large questions, and it isn't didactic.

Jones won honors for "Little Bear," which he also illustrated. It's nice to observe an original thinker at work.










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