Maudie can be both exasperating and delightful—in short, a typical preschool-age child. Bear is the epitome of patience and constancy—the perfect caregiver. In the five often funny, always comforting vignettes that comprise this picture book (The Bike Ride, Home Sweet Home, The Snack, Making Up, Telling Stories), Maudie’s ideas and imaginative play form the foundation of their interactions. Maudie’s capricious, bossy behavior is wonderfully childlike, while Bear’s gentle, soothing nature provides an abundant sense of security. Jan Ormerod’s superb text is paired with marvelous, soft-toned illustrations by Freya Blackwood. The art’s old-fashioned sensibility and appealing details add to the warmth and humor while extending the storytelling: Brown-toned panel inserts on some pages show backstory, and small clues suggest how Bear himself is an extension of Maudie’s imaginings. (Ages 3–6)