Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meetMother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When itis cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit forLittle Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hotlunch waiting for him on his return. At night she helps him get tosleep. And, of course, she never forgets his birthday.

　This is the first I Can Read Book ever, and the first of fiveclassic Little Bear books, expressly designed for beginningreaders. Elsa Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak teamed up tocreate these simple stories that are deeply comforting and lovinglyplayful. In one story, "Birthday Soup," Little Bear cannot find hismother and presumes she has forgotten his birthday. With theprospect of guests arriving and no cake in sight, he sets out tomake birthday soup (all his friends like soup). Just as thegathering is sitting down for soup, Mother Bear shows up with abig, beautiful birthday cake. "I never did forget your birthday,and I never will," she says to her son as he hugs her leg. In"Little Bear Goes to the Moon," Little Bear declares that he willfly to the moon in his new space helmet. Mother Bear tells him tobe back by lunch, and he is. The gentle, teasing repartee betweenLittle Bear and his mother will delight young readers, and thespacious layout and large type will encourage them to keep onreading!