The End (Almost) by Jim Benton (review)

“Once there was a bear named Donut. And he burped.” The story’s supposed to end there, but Donut isn’t really ready to go home, despite the insistence of the stern narrator, and the bear makes a few desperate attempts to stick around, including donning a mustache and hat and wearing a sign that says “YOU CAN’T SEE ME.” An exasperated narrator finally concedes and sends the blue bear to the castle of rainbow candy unicorns with a robot and talking ice cream cone, but alas, the pages run out and do indeed put an end to Donut’s story—unless, of course, you want to read it again, per Donut’s enthusiastic request. Donut’s kinship to Benton’s Happy Bunny franchise is apparent in the bear’s crayon-like and rounded outline, crisp pale blue, and emotive mannerisms. The book’s design is sharp, with minimal figures against goldenrod pages in the bold, digitally created art. Postmodern, breaking-the-fourth-wall picture books have become an established genre by now, though, and there’s not much to this one to distinguish it in a genre that’s included stellar works such as Willems’ We Are in a Book! (BCCB 10/10) and Gravett’s Again! (BCCB 9/13). Additionally, the humor often overly relies on gags like burps rather than the cleverness of the construction. Still, Donut stealthily tip-toeing across the page in red-sneakered feet going “SNEAK SNEAK” is going to garner giggles, and this would have plenty of possible pairings for a disruptive storytime, especially for audiences who can’t bear a story to end.