Bear's Lost Glasses by Leo Timmers

Every child will be laughing as Bear hunts for his glasses (we can see them on his head the whole time).

Bear is sure he left his glasses with is friend Giraffe. He sets off and along the way he meets a deer and a crocodile and an elephant and even a flamingo - well he thinks he has seen all these animals and a colourful bird, but has he? The final scene where Bear takes off his glasses once again is sure to make you smile.

Leo Timmers’ details are full of expression and humor—the angle of Giraffe’s neck and lift of his eyebrows, hiding his skepticism as he helps his friend, the dear, artless bear. Through an ingenious telling of this classic comical situation, Leo Timmers shows us how to enjoy the world through different eyes. Walker Books

Here is a short video where Leo Timmers talks about his book. 

I needed glasses in Primary School, but I resisted wearing them. By the time I reached senior High School I really did need them but I didn't realise this. One day I said to a friend - I do wish someone would clean and repaint the blackboard (yes I am that old) because it sure is hard to read. Ha ha - I needed glasses.

So, on one level Bear's lost Glasses is about wearing glasses but you could also extend this story to a discussion about the way we see the world. If you do want ideas of books to share about wearing glasses take a look at this post from Kinderbookswitheverything.

Congratulations to Gecko Press on giving us another fabulous Leo Timmers books. I am so glad they can share international titles translated into English - they are always such a treat.

A humorous, delightful tale about finding wonderful new ways to see the world. Kirkus

Leo Timmers was born in 1970 in Belgium. At the age of 12 he started to draw comics and later trained in graphic design. He illustrates for magazines and newspapers and has released many successful picture books. He has a large following as one of Belgium’s pre-eminent picture book artists. Leo Timmers was a 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award nominee. Here are some other books by Leo Timmers:

Bear by Natalia Shaloshvili

"Bear thinks. I love being a bear. I love my cookie. I love my book. I love my balloon. I love siting on my bench, all by myself."

But what will Bear do when other animals arrive wanting to share his bench seat, wanting to have a bite of his cookie, take a look at his book and even ask for his balloon? Finally, it all gets too much, and Bear lets out a loud roar. The animals all flee but then Natalia Shaloshvili gives her readers one more scene where perhaps there is a way for Bear to feel better but now poor Duck has to give away his cookie! You and your young reading companion will now want to talk about what might happen next. 

Holding in your feelings can have unintended consequences. Kirkus

There is a fine line between a book that is written to 'teach a child a lesson' - heavy handed versions of this can be labelled didactic - and books that explore an aspect of life that might be familiar to a young child which shows familiar feelings and reactions.

Bear is a book that is filled with big, big feelings and it all feels so real watching the way Bear reacts to others. We are privy to the narrative in his head as he navigates situations with his friends. AND his facial reactions are perfect.

While Bear's words say one thing, his expression and the clever use of font say another, giving the reader the opportunity to consider his body language and speculate on what he is really thinking, offering yet more lessons in how to "read the room", particularly if the adult sharing the book begins a conversation about these sorts of non-verbal cues and clues. Read Plus

Let’s talk about those illustrations—because wow. They’re gorgeous. Natalia Shaloshvili brings Bear’s world to life with a whimsical, textured art style that feels both magical and totally unique. Each page is a little work of art, with rich colours and soft details that invite young readers (and their grown-ups!) to pause and explore. Mummy is reading Books

I highly recommend you look for Bear and add it to your Primary School or preschool library collection. 

Bookseller blurb: A hilarious and heartwarming picture book about sharing, big feelings, and learning how to speak up! Packed with vibrant illustrations and laugh-out-loud moments, Bear is a delightful story that little readers will want to revisit again and again. Perfect for bedtime, story time, or any time! Bear is ready for the perfect day - blue skies, a cosy bench, his favourite book, a delicious cookie, and a bright balloon. Bliss! But just as he settles in, Fox wants a spot on the bench. Then Wolf asks for a bite of cookie. Rabbit wants a turn with the book. And Elephant? Well, he has his eyes on that balloon...Before Bear knows it, his peaceful day has turned into a chaotic whirlwind of sharing, and he's about to explode! AAAAAARGH! From the brilliant mind of author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili, Bear is a laugh-out-loud, beautifully illustrated story about learning to say what you really mean before your emotions take over.

Natalia Shaloshvili began her creative career as a fashion and editorial illustrator, working with a number of international magazines and creative agencies, including Grazia, Women's Health, and Gala. Later, she found her true passion in children's books and paintings. Her original work can be found in private galleries and homes around the world. She lives in London, England, with her family. Find her on Instagram as @nataly_owl. See inside Bear here.

Here are other books by Natalia Shaloshvili. I will be heading off to my library to hunt for these:

Companion books:

Five Bears You could also look at Otto The Top Dog

Something's wrong

Norton and the borrowing bear

Two for me, one for you

Good for you, good for me

Frances Bloom by Katrina Nannestad illustrated by Marina Zlatanova

Recipe for Frances Bloom

• A full to the brim cup or two of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
• Three quarters of a cup of Gooney Bird Green by Lois Lowry
• A generous dash of Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker
• A quarter teaspoon of the illustrations in Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod illustrated by Freya Blackwood (read more here)
• A small spoonful of Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
• A tiny pinch of Matilda by Roald Dahl

Method - Pippi Longstocking lives alone and so does Frances Bloom. Pippi has special animal friends - her horse and monkey. Frances has a huge bear (and a garden gnome). Pippi speaks boldly and she enjoys her daily routines. Frances loves to swim every day, often in her clothes, and she has strong opinions about school. 

Gooney Bird Green loves to wear outrageous combinations of clothes and so does Frances. Gooney entertains her class with her tall tales. Frances is loved by her 22 Grade 3 classmates because she brings her eccentric grandparents to visit the class, she sets imaginative writing assignments and ultimately, she is responsible for 'getting rid' of their horrible teacher Ms Thistle. 

Frances is somewhat like young Leeva because she has to survive and avoid being 'found out' by adults. Maudie and Bear is about relationships - and Frances creates a special bond with her bear named Grandma Maude. And of course, Clementine and Frances are about the same age and have the same outspoken opinions and slightly naive view of the world. 

Here are some of the clothes worn by Frances Bloom. You could use these descriptions as a way to book talk Frances Bloom with your library group:

"Frances stepped from the fitting room wearing tartan shorts, a lime-green poncho with tiny pompoms along the edges, rainbow-spotted tights and purple clogs."

"She dressed in a floppy red smock, green-striped tights and bright yellow gumboots. She did not brush her hair."

"She wore long Johns, a stripy blue scarf, red lace-up boots and a green beanie."

Frances Bloom has 130+ illustrated pages, large print, short chapters, a very cheeky main character and a rollicking story so it will be a perfect addition to your library collection for readers aged 7+. I am not a huge fan of the cover but I really like the internal illustrations by Marina Zlatanova. 

To my mind this is a book for an individual child or one to share in a family but the publisher have produced some extensive teachers notes. It would be fun to talk about two of the 'naughty words' - Codswallop: an old-fashioned way of saying something is nonsense and Poppycock: another old-fashioned way of saying something is nonsense.

Frances Bloom is the first title of a planned series. 

The antics that Frances, her friends and new grandparents get up to make this book lots of fun for younger readers. The Book Muse

Frances Bloom is an appealing and likeable character. She strong, clever, resilient and loves life. She is her own person, full of fun and a tiny bit of mischief but her heart is in the right place. Read Plus

Publisher blurb: Frances Bloom lives all alone in a cottage by the sea. She's having a marvellous time until her nasty teacher, Ms Thistle, learns there is no-one looking after her. Frances needs to find a family, quick smart, or she'll be sent away to Bleak Island Home for Unwanted Children and Dogs. As hard as Frances looks, nobody meets her high standards ... until she stumbles across a large, honey-coloured bear raiding the rubbish bins ... and a garden gnome fishing in the flowerbed. Welcome, Grandma Maude and Grandpa Harold! Together, this strange trio creates a new family, writing their own rules with each misadventure!

Frances Bloom also reminded me of an earlier book written for an older audience by Katrina Nannestad - The Girl who Bought Mischief. I am a huge fan of her work - click on the label for this post to see other books. 

The Girl who Bought Mischief

Meeting Grandpa Harold (the garden gnome) also made me think of these two books which are sadly long out of print but might be in your school library:

A Home for Gnomes

Norman does Nothing

Marina Zlatanova is a Bulgarian-born designer, illustrator and printmaker living in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. She has illustrated several picture books to date, including Charlie’s Shell, her debut as an author, which won a Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year award. Her style is varied and eclectic, using a diverse range of media – from watercolour and inks to digital illustration and block printing – but her love for depicting the humorous and endearing always underpins her creations. Other books illustrated by Marina Zlatnaova are Gladys and Stripey: Two little fish on one BIG adventure; and Tink, Tink, Tink! (2025).

Peace at Last by Jill Murphy

"The hour was late.

Mr Bear was tired,

Mrs Bear was tired

and

Baby Bear was tired ..."

Unfortunately, it is just too noisy for Mr Bear and he simply cannot fall asleep because Mrs Bear is snoring. He tries Baby Bear's room, but Baby Bear is pretending to be an aeroplane. In the living room the clock is ticking and then it goes cuckoo, cuckoo. In the kitchen there is a dripping tap and the hum of the refrigerator. Poor Mr Bear - he heads out to the garage but it is nearly morning and a whole host of other noises disturb him. Will he ever get any sleep?

This book is a fantastic one to read aloud to your youngest reading companion or young library group or in a preschool. Our library had a big book version of this book which was terrific because everyone in the group could see all the details in the illustrations.

The 45th Anniversary Edition of Peace at Last was published this year in 2025. There is an audio version of this book read by Anna Maxwell Martin (sorry I couldn't find a sample to share here). There are also lots of videos of this book but I suggest reading the actual print version before looking for a video. 

Bookseller blurb for the 45th Anniversary edition: Celebrate 45 years of Jill Murphy's bestselling classic Peace at Last with this special, shiny anniversary edition, including never-before-seen bonus material. An all-time favourite bedtime story, it has delighted generations of young readers, and is cherished by tired parents and carers, all too familiar with the plight of poor Mr Bear. Now with a shiny foil cover and bonus content! Enjoy sharing this enduring classic with loved ones and delve into the never-before-seen extra content showing Jill Murphy's process in creating Peace at Last. From early drafts to the final book, discover the magic of how a picture book is brought to life! With a snoring Mrs Bear, an excitable Baby Bear and a house full of tapping and dripping and ticking, peace is hard to come by - will Mr Bear ever get a decent night's sleep? The familiar noises, repetition and beautiful illustrations make this much-loved picture book the perfect story to read together.

I used to spend a long time talking about the very first page. 

What time of day is it? How do you know? Have you noticed the moon and the stars and the owl? Why did Jill Murphy add these to her illustration?

Why is the cat shaded white on one side?

What might be happening behind that one window where the lights are on?

Where do you think the bedrooms might be in this house? How does that possibly relate to the story?

What are those orange squares on the grass?

Jill Murphy is one of the UK’s most treasured author-illustrators and was the creator of many bestselling books for children, including the Bear Family picture books Peace at Last, Whatever Next! and Just One of Those Days which together have sold over four million copies worldwide. Born and raised in London, Jill spent her childhood writing and illustrating stories. She left school at sixteen and attended Chelsea, Croydon and Camberwell Schools of Art, writing her first novel, The Worst Witch, when she was just eighteen. It became an instant bestseller, launching an extraordinary publishing career that spanned almost five decades and over thirty children’s books. These include the Worst Witch novels and the award-winning Large Family series, which have each sold over five million copies, and the acclaimed Bear Family series, which includes both her first and last picture books, Peace at Last and Just One of Those Days, published by Macmillan Children’s Books. Jill’s books have won many major awards including The Smarties Prize and two commendations for the Kate Greenaway Medal and her work has been adapted for film and television, with the Large Family series becoming a successful animated series. The Worst Witch has also been adapted for television, film and theatre, becoming an Olivier Award-winning stage show.

Little Bear's Big Jumper by David Bedford illustrated by Caroline Pedler

Big Bear loves his jumper. It is soft and cozy and just right! Well not quite. Big Bear is now way bigger than when his mum knitted this jumper and now it is really way too small. Mum suggests Big Bear give his jumper to his brother - Little Bear. Big Bear does not want to do this but he agrees only if Little Bear promises to look after the jumper and keep it safe.

The brothers head out for a day of fun but unfortunately the fun turns into a disaster. The jumper gets wet and worse. Big Bear tells Little Bear he does not want to play anymore. But then Big Bear discovers he does need his friend (his brother) because games are better with two people. He sets out to find Little Bear to apologise but instead he finds a strand of wool. Oh no the jumper is unravelling. 

This book beautifully looks at ways to resolve a dispute and I adore the kindness of the mum at the end. If you have an older book called Little Bears Little Boat that could be a good comparison text and also it will give you a way to talk about growing up and change. 

I am not sure if this still happens but years ago an Australian publisher called Koala Books used to source terrific picture books, mainly from the UK, and publish or distribute them here in Australia. I remember in my former library a list would arrive I would just tick off nearly every title. This book Little Bear's Big Jumper was published in 2008. (US blog readers a jumper is a sweater). 

My friend has a collection of books about knitting. We always check to see if they meet the Betsy Bird's knitting image criteria - the illustration has to look like the character is actually knitting - holding the needles correctly.

Here are some other books by David Bedford:

David Bedford is also the author of an out of print but terrific little junior book series about soccer (football). 

Here are a few of my own favourite books about knitting and jumpers!

Something Absolutely Enormous

A Friendship Yarn

Extra Yarn (for older readers aged 8+)

The Bush Jumper and Lester's Dreadful Sweaters