Mo and Beau

Nastanlieva (The New Arrival) introduces an unlikely animal duo in Mo, a small white mouse, and Big Beau, a goliath brown bear. Beau's immense size doesn't intimidate Mo, who is eager for a play companion. After Mo fearlessly tweaks the fur on Beau's foot to get his attention, the resting bear opens his eyes and, looking almost ominous in Nastanlieva's bristly art, "showed off his teeth." Not to be outdone, Mo also shows his teeth and the two animals engage in a playful imitation game. When Beau takes deep breath, so does Mo; when Beau roars, Mo squeaks, and when the bear stretches or scratches himself, the little mouse does the same. Following a "big yawn" for both animals, Beau falls asleep with Mo napping cozily between his ears. Ample white space keeps the focus squarely on these dramatically dissimilar animals (Beau's hulking form fills many of the spreads, while Mo rises barely above the bear's paw). It's a simple yet striking story about the dynamics of parallel play and of making friends. Ages 3%E2%80%937. (Apr.)