Addis Berner Bear Forgets

Addis Berner is a somewhat confused bear. He is in the big city, but not quite sure why. He meets lots of unfriendly people, and is even robbed at one time. He has no shelter or anywhere to get food. The people are mean to him. You might wonder why he'd stick around in quite an unwelcoming place. One day, Addis is walking down the street when he sees a sign for a musical performance starring himself! That's right; Addis plays the trumpet and is very good at it. The whole reason for his visit was to headline the show! The show sells out night after night, and the whole city has now welcomed Addis as their own. It is kind of a silly book that, as adults, leaves us with more questions than answers... like why would a bear get robbed? Or how can a bear play the trumpet? But, think back to when you were a kid. That's the joy of children's books, they don't have to make sense. Joel Stewart brings out the kid in all of us with this story and allows kids to be kids while reading this book. Reviewed by Jennifer LeBrun