Sneeze, Big Bear, Sneeze!

It’s Bear versus the wind in this autumnal story. When Bear sneezes, he mistakenly believes that he is responsible for blowing the leaves off a tree. “Bear, can’t you see?/ The leaves flew down because of me,” says the billowing wind, whose gusts suggest an opera singer belting out a solo. “Wind, it wasn’t you,” Bear later insists, “the geese flew away when I sneezed/ Achoo!” Hillenbrand’s sweeping mixed-media spreads should stir up anticipation for apple-picking season, though the angry, tempestuous wind has the potential to frighten some younger readers. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)