Join Jefferson Bear and Figgy Twosocks in three warm and funny stories that explore universal themes of friendship, including separation, telling lies, and being forgiven. These heartwarming stories cover important childhood topics and carry a reassuring message. The cast of animal characters will delight all readers, young and old.

JB (Jefferson Bear) and Figgy Twosocks star in The Big What Are Friends For? Storybook by Sally Grindley, illus. by Penny Dann, which contains a trio of previously published picture books: What Are Friends For? (1998); What Will I Do Without You? (1999); and Will You Forgive Me? (2001). Ages 3-up.

PreSchool-K'Figgy Twosocks and Jefferson Bear do all of the things that buddies do. They play together, they share, and they help one another. In addition, they exchange platitudes such as "That's what friends are for" and "A friend is forever." They also have a predictable fight and make up just as predictably. While this book could be effective in explaining the concept of friendship to young children, the story is not compelling and the characters are not very interesting. Only the superior artwork and page design lift this book to a level worth considering for purchase. The relationship between the small red fox and the big tawny bear comes to life in Dann's delightful illustrations. In one scene, Figgy Twosocks sits on the big stomach of Jefferson Bear, tossing blackberries into his open mouth. In another, a little white tail peeks out of a pile of autumn leaves during a game of hide-and-seek. Although children will find pleasure in turning the pages of this attractive book over and over again, old favorites such as Arnold Lobel's Days with Frog and Toad (HarperCollins, 1979) provide a more entertaining exploration of friendship.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA

This series of truncated vignettes on friendship does not add up to a story. A gigantic honey-brown bear and a spritely little red fox are friends. ``What is a friend for?'' asks the fox, named Figgy Twosocks. ``A friend is for playing,'' answers Jefferson Bear, in syntax that echoes a little too closely A Hole Is to Dig. The two play a humorous game of hide-and-seek, allowing readers to enjoy the joke that the bear is too enormous to be concealed. After another illustrative lesson, in which they discover that friends are for sharing, Figgy Twosocks gets a thorn in her paw and requires Jefferson Bear's help. When the fox plays a prank that upsets the bear, the friendship breaks down and is just as predictably restored to the tune of ``A friend is forever,'' which is not something that can truly be counted upon, unfortunately. Dann's illustrations cheerfully depict the expressive animals and their exploits, but Grindley (Why Is the Sky Blue?, 1997, etc.) relies, this time, on sweetness over substance. (Picture book. 2-6)

length: (cm)24.4 　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　 width:(cm)21.5