9 March 2021 SOMETHING’S WRONG!: A BEAR, A HARE, AND SOME UNDERWEAR by Jory John and Erin Kraan, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, March 2021, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-374-31388-1

“Well I see you got your

Brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat

Yes I see you got your

Brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat

Well, you must tell me baby how your

Head feels under somethin’ like that

Under your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat”

-- Bob Dylan (1967)

Are you old enough to remember Nehru jackets? How about:

Miniskirts. Bell bottoms. Crop tops. 

Fringe. Bullet bras. Braless. Babydoll dresses. 

Pillbox hats. Long hair. Big hair. Multi-colored hair.

Shoulder pads. Oversized sunglasses. Leather jackets. 

Ripped jeans. Chuck Taylors. Platform shoes. 

Velour tracksuits. Plaid. Undersized sunglasses,

Lots of tattoos everywhere. 

Leggings. 

These are just a few of the fashion trends I’ve experienced over my lifetime. They’ve added flavor and memories to various eras. But how do these trends come to be? And why do so many people conform to them?

These questions  came to my mind after I read SOMETHING’S WRONG!, a story about a bear who absentmindedly leaves home wearing a pair of tighty whities that his grandmother had sent him as a gift. He’s unaware  that all the woodland animals are asking each other, “”WHY IS THAT BEAR WEARING UNDERWEAR?’”

Unable to figure out why he feels that something’s wrong, he seeks out his best friend, Anders, who turns out to be a very good friend and a very clever rabbit.

When Anders first emerges, at the beckoning of the bear, he is startled to see his buddy wearing underwear.

“‘Oh, hey, Jeff, how’s your…uh...day...um...how’s your...how’s...uh’

‘Are you okay, Anders?’

‘Oh boy. Should I tell him? Yes? You really think he can handle it? Why am I even asking you? Who are you? All right. Welp. Here we go…’

*Deep breath*”

Being a good friend, Anders does what all the others wouldn't: He tells the bear what the problem is. And being an utterly clever friend, he turns his friend’s embarrassing error into a hot fashion trend. Turns out that Anders is quite the marketer! Soon all the woodland animals are horsing around in underwear. (The moose in bloomers takes the cake.)

Which brings us to the beautiful and comical illustrations of first-time illustrator, woodcutter and printmaker Erin Kraan. The characters are adorable. I love the rich shades she chooses for the critters and the woodlands. Details such as the intricate ground cover patterning, and the botanical endpapers show off her impressive abilities as a fine artist.

SOMETHING’S WRONG! is a beary entertaining tale, one that you should not miss.

Richie Partington, MLIS

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