The best picture books are the ones that beg to be read aloud . If you’re the kind of mom who loves to do a little entertaining at bedtime, A Visitor for Bear (Candlewick, 2008) is a must have.

Bear is the curmudgeon’s curmudgeon. He lives alone, and he likes it that way. He even has a sign on his front door: “No Visitors Allowed.” So, you can imagine the hilarity that ensues when an intrepid mouse (“Small and gray and bright-eyed”) invites himself for tea and refuses – ever so politely – to take no for an answer.

After closing his front door on the would-be guest, Bear repeatedly encounters the endearingly rodent in all manner of places – the cupboard, the bread drawer, the fridge, and so forth. Try as he might to lock every door, bar every window, and stop up every gap and crevice, Bear is unable to stop the entry of this companionable critter.

Bonny Becker’s simple text is a joy to read. (Who can resist shouting words like “vamoose!” and “begone!” with emphasis and feeling?) And Kady MacDonald Denton’s illustrations are both beautiful and full of comedy. Bear’s expressions alone will leave you giggling for days.

To top it off, the theme of this book is as charming as its characters. As you turn from one page to the next, you witness the unexpected blossoming of a special friendship. Bear slowly and reluctantly succumbs to the mouse’s impeccable good manners (and infuriating persistence), and suddenly realizes how pleasant good company can be. Mouse’s attentiveness surprises Bear and encourages him to come out of his shell. Before the last page is turned, Bear is begging mouse to stay.

It’s so nice to read a story about strangers becoming good friends – even a pretend one about a crotchety Bear and a spritely mouse.