Donald Maass Literary Agency

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.

Kirkus: Fancy pants prove no match for madcap ursine rage. On the heels of Don’t Trust Fish (2025), Sharpson and Santat re-create the magic of their previous collaboration. This time our hero is a tan-skinned, dark-haired man with some seriously choice orange cargo pants. After flying from Ireland to Alaska, the man almost immediately comes face-to-face with a bear. The encounter doesn’t go well, culminating (after some seriously Looney Tunes–esque capers) with our hero in the hospital after briefly being devoured (he makes it out alive, but the “FANCY TRAVELING PANTS” are tragically shredded). Fortunately, all turns out well when human and bear are reunited for a surprising literary collaboration. Sharpson packs all manner of verbal jokes into this telling, each one deftly picked up and illustrated with additional flourishes by Santat. (When the protagonist confesses that the bear has been following him everywhere, even virtually, the bear’s online comment reads, “I see you bro.”) At times, the narration drags a bit due to the sheer plethora of wordplay. Still, it’s a small criticism given the enjoyment that this tale will provide; Santat’s silliness more than keeps the energy afloat. A worthy entry in the pantheon of consumed picture-book protagonists, with jokes that come as fast as a furious bear. (Picture book. 4-8)