School Library Journal: Collaborators Sharpson and Santat take on another suspicious species in this follow-up to their 2025 picture book Don’t Trust Fish. Here, a pair of fancy traveling pants leads a man from his Ireland home to the Alaskan wilderness. Upon arrival, the man receives an important—but unfortunately unhelpful—pamphlet explaining what to do if he encounters a bear. The bear arrives, seemingly while the man is still in the airport; misunderstandings and ill-advised survival attempts ensue, ultimately changing the course of man and bear’s futures forever. This unpredictable, entertaining story is outlandish and poignant. The somewhat anthropomorphic bear and man’s misguided attempts to coexist will amuse children and adult readers alike. Their story is a delight to read aloud, but the lengthy narrative and nuanced storytelling make this a story best suited for sharing with elementary-age readers. Award-winning Santat’s iconic, energetic art style is well matched with Sharpson’s sarcastic adventure; each image provides plenty of visual details and jokes for readers to giggle over. With a resolution that is as surprising as the rest of this offbeat story, this laugh-out-loud book will leave a positive mark on readers’ minds once it concludes. VERDICT Unexpected turns and irreverent humor mark this entertaining man vs. nature story; hand this to fans of picture books with advanced storytelling and dry wit.
Sep 092026