The Ring Bear 
By David Michael Slater

    Westley is a very imaginative youngster. He spends his days pretending to be “Westley the Wicked, Pirate King Extraordinaire.” His mom goes along with his play, calling herself, “Mom the Mean.” When Mom’s friend, Stan, tries to join the fun, Westley is not happy.

     One day, Mom explains to Westley that she and Stan want to be married and they would like him to be their ring bearer. Westley is not happy about this and expresses his fears by changing into a bear—misinterpreting his mom’s request for a “ring bearer.” He loves his mom, but isn’t sure if Stan loves him and has doubts about the three of them as a family. The way in which Stan affirms his affection for Westley is truly touching.

     This story is clever in dealing with children who have vivid imaginations, but could have shown a bit more communication between adults and child. The illustrations were excellent from an adult viewpoint, but a few might prove to be scary to children. When used to help a child deal with the marriage of a parent, this story should be accompanied with a lot of talk and open communication.