Day 30: A Visitor for Bear

"No one ever came to Bear's house.  It had always been that way, and Bear was quite sure he didn't like visitors.  He even had a sign."  NO VISITORS ALLOWED.  No visitors, that is, until a politely persistent, bright-eyed mouse comes along and insists on staying for a spot of tea, a bit of cheese, and a nice fire.  We recently borrowed this adorably endearing story from our local library and my son has loved reading it each day.  It features the solitary Bear and the small gray mouse, who manages to find his way back in to Bear's house no matter how hard Bear tries to keep him out.  Grouchy old Bear is simply trying to make his breakfast, but every time he turns around, there is the mouse!  (My son loves saying that part with each turn of the page.)  The mouse finally succeeds in wearing Bear down and allowing him to stay, promising to leave for good after his visit.  Grudgingly, Bear prepares their tea and a "crackling fire in the fireplace for two sets of toes."  Mouse is attentive, says the fire is lovely, and laughs heartily at Bear's jokes -- things no one has ever done before.  Soon enough, Bear is showing Mouse how he can do a headstand and offering him a second cup of tea.  Watching this change of heart is what makes this story so charming.  When Mouse insists on going as he promised he would -- after all, no visitors allowed! -- Bear can't stand the thought of him leaving.  And just like that, a great friendship is born.  I love the expressions on their faces throughout the story, subtle yet expressive, and Becker uses some great vocabulary words along the way, too.  My son can't help but laugh when the exasperated Bear exclaims things like, "Begone!" or, "This is impossible!  Intolerable!  Insufferable!"  I also love how at its heart, it is a story about becoming friends with someone you never expected and giving new friendship a chance; an important lesson for all children, I think.  There are several other tales about these two great friends, too, which we will be sure to look for the next time we are at the library.  In the meantime, we will undoubtedly be reading this one again and again.