Book Title: A Friend for Bear (available here)
Author: Steve Smallman
Illustrator: Caroline Pedlar
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Publication Date: Feb 2020
Most Suitable For: EYFS & KS1
Reviewed By: Kathryn Gilbert
Steve Smallman tells a wonderful story of a bear and a tortoise playing in the forest they live in. The story explores some elements of hibernation, habitats and animals. The text is delightfully supported by Caroline Pedlar’s illustrations which add extra detail with additional animals and background scenery.
The story begins with Little Bear waking from her hibernation and meeting Tortoise. They decide to go off on an adventure together through the forest. Little Bear is very enthusiastic, wanting to roly-poly down hills, climb trees and jump in the pond. Tortoise, reluctantly at times, goes along with Little Bear’s adventures. Tortoise realises that Little Bear is trying to complete all her activities in one day as she thinks it will be time to hibernate again tomorrow. Little Bear is delighted to discover that not only is it not the start of hibernation again but that she has made a good friend in Tortoise. Little Bear learns to take the time to enjoy all the wonders of spring and realises she has made the friend she was searching for all along.
A Friend for Bear is a heart-warming tale about friendship that younger children will enjoy.
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You can order A Friend For Bear online or from your local bookshop.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Review Panel member Kathryn for reviewing it.
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our printable year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month.
