“How to be a bear. . . Catch fish with your hands. Hibernate. Growl. Be brave.” First-time author/illustrator Lisa Brown’s debut picture book is full of charm and humor. Divided into short sections titled “How to be a . . . (bear, monkey, turtle, snake, spider, dog), each features brief “instructions” accompanied by playful illustrations showing two siblings engaged in typical childlike behavior that resembles the animal traits. A final section, “How to be a . . . Person,” brings an added dimension of thoughtfulness to the fun, especially when young readers and listeners notice that the instructions match the final trait for each of the six animals that came before (be brave, curious, patient, charming, creative, and friendly), along with the most important direction of all: “Be yourself.” (Ages 3–6)

This is a book about

how to be a:

Bear

Monkey

Turtle

Snake

Spider

Dog.

This is a book about

how to be a:

Person.