Else Holmelund Minarik, Author of Little Bear Books, Dies at 91

Else Holmelund Minarik, a writer for children whose Little Bear picture-book series which simply, gently and evocatively tells the story of an anthropomorphized cubs forays into the wider world has been a mainstay of childhood for more than half a century, died on Thursday at her home in Sunset Beach, N.C. She was 91. The death was announced HarperCollins Publishers, her longtime publishing house. The first of many books by Ms. Minarik (pronounced MIN-uh-rick), Little Bear appeared in 1957 as the inaugural title in the I Can Read! series. Aimed at beginning readers, the series, now comprising hundreds of