The Red Fruit

September 1, 2023
Economically drawn and narrated, this translated work from Korea spotlights a bear cub's na�vet� and determination. An italicized, scene-setting line of text appears against a page depicting snow, tall conifers, and the bear cub's tracks: "Baby bear got up early, by himself." "Tok"--a red fruit bounces off the hungry cub's head. Finding the morsel delicious, the bear declares, "I want to eat more." He begins to climb, successively encountering three red shapes that initially appear to be more tantalizing fruit but reveal themselves to be a caterpillar, a squirrel, and a beehive. As the cub climbs, the perspective shifts between close- and mid-range spreads and long views of his diminutive form amid the pine forest. At the very top, the bear sees "nothing." But the setting sun's red blaze tints the branches, catching his eye. "It looks delicious!" Leaping, he falls--first, backlit against the huge orb, then past beehive, squirrel, and caterpillar into the voluminous embrace of a parent, waiting with two other cubs and piles of red fruit. Rendered in inky, grainy gradations of gray-to-black, accented with red and yellow, Lee's pictures capture the forest's beauty, evoking traditional brush painting. The bears' spreading pads and claws seem as significant as their physiognomy--which nonetheless quietly conveys sensations of curiosity, satiety, surprise, and (in the parent bear) implacable aplomb. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Beautifully transcends its seeming simplicity. (Picture book. 3-8)

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September 1, 2023

PreS-K-Children follow a baby bear on an adventure to find more of the delicious red fruit that has fallen to the ground. The book's minimalist text seamlessly complements the simple illustrations of a vast forest where the search takes place. The monochromatic digital illustrations, resembling charcoal or perhaps bamboo brush and deep black ink, are broken up by a glimpse of vivid red, piquing curiosity-did the little bear find the fruit or not?-helping to keep readers engaged. The bear finds a caterpillar, a red squirrel, even the sun. Although the text maintains a deliberate pace, young readers will relish joining in the journey. The tale lends itself to an easy storytelling session, particularly in libraries, as the text follows the bear's movements and can be played out using puppets and simple colors. Will the chosen color scheme cause confusion for some readers? The wintry sense of the landscape implies hibernation and a natural scarcity of fruit. Still, the hunt is compelling, and the curiosity of the child will be well understood. It helps foster the development of early inferencing skills by encouraging children to figure out what things a small bear encounters along the way. VERDICT Appealing for a younger audience or for a parent or librarian seeking a simple read-aloud.-Jessica Clark

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2023
Hungry baby bear wakes up early and wanders off alone. When a delicious red fruit falls from a tree and lands on his head, he decides to search for more. The tree is exceedingly tall, but that doesn't stop him. On his way up, he spots what he thinks is the red fruit, but page-turns reveal other surprises: a caterpillar, a squirrel, a beehive. At the top of the tree, he's mesmerized by what he thinks is the biggest red fruit of all: the setting sun. Eun fills this Korean import with simple sentences ("I want to eat more"), perfect for pre- and emerging readers. Playful text orientation captures bear's daunting climb: the letters of "Going up" are set in a vertical line. The use of a repeated "Oh!" for many of the creatures the bear sees on his climb emphasizes his abundant curiosity. Vibrant pops of red for the elements in nature that baby bear discovers punctuate an otherwise monochromatic palette in textured illustrations with relaxed lines that look like they were done in charcoals. Thinking the setting sun is "a huge red fruit," baby bear leaps to grab it but instead falls toward the ground, passing all his red discoveries on the way down. Thankfully, an adult bear is there to catch him. A new discovery, this one yellow, hints at another enchanting adventure. Julie Danielson

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)