This lovingly rendered, meditative book on friendship is sure to find a permanent place on the bedside table

With sparse text and a deceptively simple, beautiful design, author/illustrator Kazue Takahashi brings to life the world of Kuma-Kuma Chan, which loosely translates from the Japanese as "cute little bear."

Making its first appearance in English, this charming book for preschoolers and readers of all ages begins with a question of childlike wonder: How might my friend, a solitary bear, choose to spend his days?

Daily chores and seasonal activities become infused with special meaning when they are performed by this adorable creature. Kuma-Kuma Chan goes about his days in contented solitude, engaged in activities such as eating breakfast, gazing at clouds, listening to the rain, writing letters, and wondering where to go with his new bag.

At night he watches the sky darken and brushes his teeth before bed. He gardens in the spring, trims his hair in summer, composes a love song in the fall, and seeks a warm, sunny spot on the floor in the winter.

Children and adults alike will take delight in repeating aloud the name of their new, steadfast storybook friend and look forward to spending more time in his imagined world.

“These incredibly simple little drawings are alive. The bear has a soul. You open the book and look into a small but totally convincing world. Lovely.” — Lisbeth Zwerger, award-winning illustrator