As the story opens, John Berry and his siblings are listening yet again to the story of a bear called "State O' Maine" and how the bear came to be part of the lives of their parents on the summer they fell in love. As the story unfolds, the children object to specific statements, insisting that the story be told correctly. John's siblings include his older brother and sister, Frank and Franny, and younger siblings Lilly and Egg. John notes that all will sit still and listen to the story though the children frequently add pieces of information, ask questions to keep the story on track and insist on their mother's point of view regarding the story. (read more)