In a follow-up to last year’s popular Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories (Roaring Brook, 2007), the dachshund and teddy bear companions are back for three more chapters detailing their friendship. In “Ice Cream,” Dog gets angry at Bear, for reasons unknown to the reader, and threatens to run away from home. Bear refuses to escalate the conflict and instead makes helpful suggestions about items Dog might want to pack in his suitcase. In the end, Dog decides to stay after Bear offers him a bowl of ice cream before he leaves. In the second story, Dog makes a surprise birthday cake for Bear but ends up eating everything except the candle before Bear shows up. Bear is happy with just a candle and the knowledge that Dog remembered his birthday. In “Sweet Dreams,” Dog has trouble falling asleep and asks Bear to bring him a cup of tea, a dog biscuit, a bowl of soup, his book, and more, until Bear is so exhausted that he’s the one who falls asleep. Seeger’s distinctive uncluttered style uses heavy black outlines and muted primary colors painted with broad strokes to add character to these direct descendants of Lobel’s Frog and Toad. (Ages 3–6)

WHAT'S BETTER THAN ONE DOG AND BEAR BOOK?  TWO! In three new stories, the two dearest of friends celebrate Bear's birthday, have their first falling out, and take care of each other when Dog is under the weather.  Dog and Bear: Two's Company is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.