I Am a Baby author-illustrator Bob Shea splashes back onto the shelf with Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend, a hilarious and fun story of friendship.
A turtle meets a bear—but, wait, is it a bear? After all, the turtle is a bear expert, and this bear doesn’t seem to be doing very bear-like things. Upon quizzing their new friend, the turtle considers that maybe they were wrong, and the bear is truly a bear . . . except the “bear” can’t live these lies any longer. They’re actually a turtle in a bear suit, and they lied to their new friend. Can the friendship survive this deception?
Sometimes, a book is simply joyous and funny, and Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend is one such book. Shea, an Eisner Award nominee and the designer of the PBS Kids logo, understands the power of subversive humor and honest truth. Combining the two makes the first of this new series a laugh-out-loud romp that won’t just have kids giggling: It will have them begging for a reread.
Shea’s spare, colorful art and conversational text work in perfect unison. Simple swooping lines expertly convey the movement of the two turtle friends. Real turtles might not have eyebrows, but Shea’s turtles make excellent use of theirs.
Fans of Jon Klassen, Mac Barnett and Mo Willems will fall in love with Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend. This is a must for librarians, teachers and parents looking for a delightful read-aloud to add to their collection. More, please!