Bear Wants to Sing

Bear Wants to Sing begins with the loss of four musical instruments. A lush double-page spread rendered in graphite depicts a young child on a tricycle fading into the distance, having accidentally left a ukulele, a French horn, a tambourine and a drum behind. Seiferling’s soft and muted forest landscape sets the scene for the sweet animal adventure to follow. A bear happens upon the ukulele and enthusiastically prepares to sing a song for his friend, mouse. Before he can begin, a crow discovers the tambourine, interrupting bear with a loud and raucous song of her own. An increasingly grumpy bear is thwarted from sharing his song three more times as a snake, a tortoise and a fox share their passion and zeal for entertaining. Fagan employs rhythm, rhyme and onomatopoeia, making each successive song a humorous vignette that introduces new vocabulary and showcases the animals’ distinct personalities. Seiferling further endears the animals to readers by depicting nuanced facial expressions and body language that make emotions palpable. The story culminates with bear’s leaving the group downcast and disappointed after finally sharing his song only to be met by halfhearted feedback from the group. Luckily, steadfast mouse follows bear to the river and gently cheers him up as only a true friend could.

Bear Wants to Sing celebrates kindness and the joys of expressing yourself in the presence of those you love.