Albert the bear heads straight to his favorite tree after hibernating. He’s missed climbing and the peace and quiet he enjoys there. Then he hears a wail. Is his tree crying? Albert, Rabbit, and Caribou try to cheer the tree up—they dig holes for it to play in and gather some grass for the tree to eat, but nothing helps. Finally, Albert gives the tree a hug and asks why it’s crying. The tree replies that he’s scared of the big hairy monster. Albert (the big hairy monster) realizes that the voice is not coming from the tree, but from a tiny owl nesting inside it. After the initial shock of their meeting, Albert and Owl bond over their shared love of the tree. Gentle humor and a sweet, unexpected friendship are complemented by mixed-media illustrations that give a cozy feel to Albert’s forest home with shades of green, brown, grey, and blue. (Ages 3–6)