"The Biggest Bear" written and illustrated by Lynd Ward

I chose to read this as one of my extra books in an attempt to read more boy-ish books. Johnny Orchard's family owned a farm, much like most people in his town. However, there was one thing that was missing from his that everyone else's had, a bearskin. Everytime Johnny would go into town, he felt embarassed and ashamed of his farm as he saw the bearskins on everyone's barns. One day on his way home, he stumbled upon a cub. He decided to feed it some maple sugar and just like that the two become best friends. Johnny took the cub home to his family where they were a little hesitant, but they did not resist. As the cub grew into a huge bear, he ate everything from everyone, which began to annoy the people of the town. Johnny's parents decided he must get rid of the bear. Johnny tried, but the bear always came back. So Johnny realized he must do the unthinkable, kill the bear. Before Johnny got the chance to, the two ended up in a cage set for the bear so he could be taken to the zoo. Johnny agreed to let him go there because he knew the bear would be given a great home. Now Johnny can visit the bear whenever he wants and bring him a piece of maple sugar.

Again, I really liked this book. I don't think it is too boy-ish for girls not to like it or appreciate it. I think this is a good book for students to read to show the unlikely bond that the boy and bear shared. The boy felt ashamed for not having what others had, a bearskin, but he realized it is not what others think about you. I think this is great moral and lesson for students to hear.