Sometimes Dad Is the Biggest Cub of All

Meet the Bears by Regina Claire

Every family has someone who turns a perfectly ordinary afternoon into a bit of a production. In Regina Claire’s Meet the Bears, that someone is Dad — and judging by the spaghetti hanging from his head, he’s already had quite a day.

This rhyming picture book introduces the five members of the Bear Family, whose adventures are inspired by Claire’s own family. There’s Little Cub, the youngest, with his messy paws and hair; his funny, smart brother Fred; and Sue, the quiet, sweet eldest sister. Momma Bear loves cooking and caring for her family. Then there’s Bear himself, a father with plenty of enthusiasm and a trail of household messes everywhere he goes.

Although the whole family gets an introduction, Bear soon takes over. He spills food and drinks, leaves clothes in unlikely places and plays with the cubs until the fun ends in a crash. Afterward, he retires for a nap that can last three or four hours. Parenthood is exhausting, even for bears.

Children who frequently hear reminders to watch their step or put things away may appreciate seeing Dad become the source of household disorder. He’s happy to join in the fun, even when it ends with him sprawled across the kitchen floor amid water and suds. Once he wakes from his nap, he’s ready to do it all again.

Pictures with Their Own Punch Lines

Cameron Kimball and Kendall Farris’s bright cartoon illustrations supply their own dose of comedy. Bear looks suitably bewildered beneath an overturned bowl of spaghetti, noodles dangling over his face and sauce dripping down his shirt. Later, as the family prepares for travel, he studies a map upside down. Perhaps someone else should navigate.

The cubs have their own visual introductions. Fred reads a book on a tree swing, while Sue pauses among the flowers. Little Cub leaves colorful pawprints across the floor and artwork on the wall. By the time he’s bouncing on an overstuffed suitcase, we have some idea of what his parents can expect on vacation.

These details reward a leisurely look at the pictures. The short rhyming passages leave room for an adult and child to pause over an expression or spot another bit of mischief before turning the page.

The closing pages turn toward future family travels, with luggage, maps and the promise of destinations both sunny and snowy. For now, we’re getting acquainted with the family that will take us there — and learning that Dad may need as much looking after as the cubs.

Bear makes an amusing traveling companion before he’s even left home. With this affectionate introduction, Claire gives young readers a good reason to follow him out the door and on to the next adventure.