Perhaps Something’s Wrong!: A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear is more of a 2.5 than a solid two, as the ending does have a slight twist one does not necessarily see coming and it was amusing. However, the ending was also flawed for me. Bear leaves home thinking they have forgotten something in Jory John’s picture book. They just cannot put their finger on it. Bear travels the forest, meeting friends, and is nervous about the thing he forgot; the thing that is “wrong” about the day. It is not until Bear gets to Hares house that they figure out the issue (see the cover for the first and only needed clue). And unfortunately, everyone else has too. But instead of it becoming one of the most embarrassing days of Bears life, it becomes a real “save face” when Hare knows what to do.
I am not sure I liked the ending. SPOILER: Bear is wearing underwear (Bear’s grandmother sends the oddest gifts) and bears (or hares) do not wear underwear. So instead of making Bear feel bad about the mistake, that the other animals of the forest point out to Bear, Hare just happens to have underwear too, puts it on and frankly somewhat shames the other animals with a “What? Don’t you know fashion? It’s the latest thing.” So of course, the other animals must have underwear too. It’s up the reader to decide their level of enjoyment.
Yet, what is saving this book for me is Erin Balzer and the cute illustrations they created. Even if they are not “solid” and at times and I felt they were a smidgen “uncentered” to my eye, they are catchy. The cover tells all you need to know as what you see is the level of detail, the colors, the style of the illustrations you will get. They are comfortable. They are not “too much” or “too little” but Baby Bear “just right.”
I am probably not the audience for this all ages book. But I do recommend it for the right reader. You need decide if you fall into that category.