A review by kellyt_abc
Baby Bear by Kadir Nelson

4.0

Beautiful, rich illustrations really compliment the quiet, thoughtful story. Having recently come from reading [b:Owl Babies|716944|Owl Babies|Martin Waddell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347772278s/716944.jpg|2961469], I found the looming sense of anxiety and uncertainty very poignant and I was really struck by the fact that when Baby Bear finally finds his home, he isn't reunited with his family. So much of Nelson's work is so beautifully infused with African American culture and experience; though it's style is dramatically different from [b:Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya|6520754|Mama Miti Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya|Donna Jo Napoli|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348289097s/6520754.jpg|6712633] which I recently picked up (I think Baby Bear resembles perhaps more closely [b:Nelson Mandela|13623795|Nelson Mandela|Kadir Nelson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1352757020s/13623795.jpg|19227542] in the vibrancy of the illustrations) I wonder if Baby Bear perhaps flows in the same vein, given its careful balance of isolation and serenity.