Bear—large, looming, unfriendly, and self-sufficient, contrasts dramatically with mouse—tiny, unpresuming but determined, funny, and selfless. When Bear's hard shell begins to crack, we find great pleasure in witnessing friendship's rewarding blossom. In this slapstick tale that begs to be read aloud, all Bear wants is to eat his breakfast in peace, but the mouse--who keeps popping up in the most unexpected places--just won't go away! Illustrations.