Jack the Bear is Christina Leist’s first attempt at writing for children; she has, however, illustrated several other children’s books, and is an accomplished graphic artist. Her illustrations here are drawn on recycled paper shopping bags, which lends a lovely warmth to the book, and she has fun with the pages, exploring textures and colours, zooming in and out, switching perspectives, and playing with various media (including watercolour, crayon, felt pen, and pencil).

But even the intriguing textures and perspectives can’t disguise the fact that there is not much of a narrative here. The story is told as a conversation between Nosy Fox and Brainy Owl, who are looking over at Jack the Bear as he sits under a tree offering a jar of honey to Grumpy Squirrel. When Nosy Fox inquires about what Jack is doing, Brainy Owl explains that the bear is “making the world a better place.” But, the fox asks, isn’t that something best left to important people like prime ministers, scientists, or philosophers? Brainy Owl patiently explains that we all have a role to play in improving the world just by being kind to one another.

And that’s about it. It’s an undeniably good message, but one wonders if the question and answer approach is the most engaging way to present it. Leist has taken the easy way out, preferring to tell, rather than show, what she wants to convey.

As for the players in the story, they are not so much characters as symbols, as their names imply: Brainy Owl is wise, Nosy Fox is nosy, and Grumpy Squirrel scowls (at least until Jack treats him to his honey).

And Jack? He’s clearly a bear with a sweet tooth and an even sweeter temper. It would be nice if readers had the chance to meet him.