My Bear Grizz by Suzanne McGinness

McGinniss draws Griz in all his furry, naturalistic majesty, his warm coat a mass of scratchy brown ink lines, his heavy head as big as his owner Billy’s whole body. Griz dominates most of the spreads, his bulk echoed in the book’s extra-large type. 

Publisher's Weekly

My name is Billy and I love bears. My bear's name is Griz because he is a Grizzly Bear. 

Bookseller blurb: Billy has a bear called Griz. A Grizzly Bear. And the two friends have all kinds of wonderful adventures together. They go exploring, play hide and seek, eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches, share secrets and tell jokes. Griz is the best friend a boy could possibly have - whether he's a Grizzly Bear or a teddy bear... This is a stunning debut picture book about a boy and his bear, in which the short text and tactile, large scale paintings bring Griz and Billy magically to life.

Griz is striking, drawn in densely hatched and layered pen lines of browns and blacks, too big to fit on the page yet dominating the space. Griz has a wildness about him, an unrestrained vibe, but he never feels dangerous. Billy trusts Griz implicitly as they explore, share secrets and eat peanut-butter–and-honey sandwiches. Backgrounds are abstract, mellow watercolor, balancing the energetic lines of Griz’s fur. Billy’s enthusiastic, just-learning-to-write printing runs over the pages, crowing “Griz loves honey!” and “Grrr! Roar!” One aspect of Griz isn’t revealed until the final page, though discerning readers may note hints of make-believe in the fancifully colored forest trees (site of hide and seek) and the fluid size ratio of boy to bear. Kirkus

Art in this book is created with biro (and water colours). A really new book by Matthew Cordell has art also made with biro pens.

102 by Matthew Cordell

Clearing out old display materials in the library where I work as a volunteer I spied the dust jacket of My Bear Grizz and I was immediately drawn to the art.

This will seem very odd but up until the last page I enjoyed this book and especially appreciated the huge format and wonderful textured illustrations of the bear with his almost tactile fur. What happens at the end I hear you ask. Well, the story uses that old trope of "it was all a dream" or "this was all my imagination" and while I do appreciate other books that follow this form I somehow felt dreadfully let down here although I think all preschool children will love this 'twist'. My reaction probably came from reading this book way too quickly and not stopping to think about the visual clues. 

It’s a tribute to the imagination of children, simply chronicling one day in the life of young Billy, who loves bears and whose bear’s name is Griz, “because he is a Grizzly Bear.” They explore, snack, play hide-and-go-seek, share secrets, nap, and much more. In the final spread, we see proof that this boy’s imagination is as big as his imaginary friend, though discerning readers will notice other clues before the closing illustration. Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast

The other delightful aspect of this book is the way the author/illustrator has included graffiti - as a commentary on the action. The end papers are also covered with Billy's scribbles.

Using a pen for the art and the graffiti could be ideas your art teacher might like to include in their program. Of course this book from 2011 is now out of print but you might find a copy in library.

If you want to find another book where the last page is a good surprise try to find this one:

This is the Bear by Sarah Hayes illustrated by Helen Craig

This is the Bear is a perfect preschool book. It has a cumulative tale format. Sadly this book is out of print. It was originally published in 1986 - so this is the 40th anniversary!  I do wish Walker Books UK would republish this book and others from the 'This is the Bear' series. These books were also produced in a Big Book format and set out to read as a play. 

This is the bear who fell in the bin. This is the dog who pushed him in.

This is the man who picked up the sack. This is the driver who would not come back.

This is the bear who went to the dump and fell on the pile with a bit of a bump.

Companion book:

Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear

Here are the other books in this series:

Walker Books UK published these books for their series called "Reading Time".  There were titles such as Big Bad Pig by Allan Ahlberg; Our Dog by Helen Oxenbury; and Have you seen Crocodile? by Colin West.

You may already know art by Helen Craig. 

The Pumpkin man and the Crafty Creeper

(This book is a fabulous one to read aloud)

Jam

The Night of the Paper bag Monsters

This goes with Charlie and Tyler at the Seaside

There are 67 Angelina Ballerina books!

Grin and Bear it: The wit and wisdom of Corduroy

I spied this little book of wisdom at a recent charity book sale. I am a huge fan of Corduroy. I own the toy, the book and I used to share the brilliant Western Woods video with groups of younger students in my former school library every year. I had no idea Corduroy was first published in 1968! This little wisdom book was published in 2018 - I guess for the 50th anniversary.

Here are a few of the wise words:

• "You're never too grown-up for a teddy bear."
• "You're never too small to get where you need to go."
• "Love what you see in the mirror."
• "No matter how nervous you are, walk in like you own the place."
• "A true friend always has your back."
• "Friends come in all shapes, sizes and species."
• "Never forget who you are and never forget who loves you."

I am happy to see all the books about Corduroy including the original two titles at the top of this post are still available and in paperback for a really good price. Other Corduroy titles reference in Grin and Bear it:

Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Charles Santoso

“Here at Second Chances,” Pocket continued, “we report to two lovely humans. Elizaveta and Dasha, her daughter, make sure we are prepared for new homes. ... “Our job,” Pocket said, “our only job, is to wait with hope. Always with hope. 

And while we wait, to care for each other.”

Elizaveta and her daughter, Dasha, are refugees from war-torn Ukraine. Their cat named Zephyrina brings them gifts in the form of old discarded toys. Dasha has named their home Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured. When the toys arrive they have a few days outside on display just in case their actual owner comes by to retrieve them then the toy is taken inside and restored. First stop the freezer to remove any bugs then off to the day spa (bathroom) for a thorough cleaning. The plan is that over time to old toys will find new homes. Dasha also writes a history for each bear - I loved this idea. 

Look closely - Pocket is standing on the piano to address the gathering of toys.

What Elizaveta and Dasha don't know is that these toys have nighttime adventures and that they have a 'leader' named Pocket. He is a tiny pocket bear made to comfort soldiers during World War I. As this story begins Zephyrina has bought in a new bear. Later he is named Berwon. The curious possibility about this new bear is that he might be from the famous Steif factory. If that is true he could be worth a lot of money so it is at this point of the story an unscrupulous antique toy dealer arrives. She connives to steal Berwon - his rescue will leave you breathless. 

Every part of this book made me smile especially the gentle wisdom of Pocket and the voice of the street wise cat Zephyrina also known as Corporal Z. Here are a few text quotes:

Thing about Pocket, first thing you noticed, was his height. Guy was tiny, even for a stuffed toy. Three and a half inches max, nose to toes. He was fond of saying—Pocket was fond of saying many things - “We are, all of us, small for a while. But only a fortunate few stay small forever.”

He said the most important feature of a mascot bear, besides his size, was the positioning of his eyes. Dark glass edged in gold, they were set higher than you might expect. That way, if a soldier, pining away for his family or his sweetheart, glanced down at his pocket, he would see a little bear gazing up at him. I had my doubts when Pocket told me this. It seemed like an awfully big burden to put on the shoulders of a tiny bear.

“Your fellow recruits are all here after lives of many kinds.” Pocket began striding up and down the piano keys. “Some brutal. Some brimming with sweetness. Some wild with adventure. Some unhurried and serene.” He smiled. “All complicated. All beautiful.”

She lowered Berwon into the bubbles, careful to keep his head above the water. She only immersed the toys briefly. Didn’t want to get them too wet, I suppose. “I love watching you at work.” Elizaveta leaned against the wall and smiled. “You’re so gentle.” Dasha reached for the brush. She stroked the fur on Berwon’s back. “I like it. It feels good to take something messed up and make it, you know … not so messed up.”

The sign says Welcome to Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured

You will need to wait until February 2026 to pick up this book here in Australia (I read the ebook version). Hopefully it will be available from your favourite independent bookstore [9781760266622].

It would be wonderful to share this book as a family read aloud. Think about exploring words such as incredulous; imperfections; arctophiles; spry; and altruist. The 93 chapters are very short so you could read 5 or 6 each night. This book has 272 pages. You also must hunt out other books by Katherine Applegate. I have SO many favourites. Here is her website. Here are some teachers notes - not sure I would use these. I think this is a book just to read and love!

During World War I Farnell contributed to the war effort by making miniature soldier bears that were often given to soldiers by their loved ones as good luck. The bears had upturned faces so they could look out from their soldier’s front pocket to see what was going on. Read more here

Applegate’s writing is exquisitely nuanced; she couches profound themes in accessible language that depicts relatable situations. Gentle, generous Elizaveta and Dasha poignantly underscore the human impact of wars. Santoso’s enchanting, delicate, black-and-white illustrations bring the timeless feeling of a classic to this hopeful, humanizing story of the distressed looking out for each other. Kirkus Star review

Publisher blurb: Thimble-born from tip to toe, Pocket Bear remembers every moment of his becoming: the glimmering needle, the silken thread, the tender hands as each careful stitch brought him closer to himself. Born during the throes of WWI, he was designed to fit into the pocket of a soldier’s jacket, eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that he always gazed upward. That way, glancing at his pocket, a soldier would see an endearing token of love from someone back home, and, hopefully, a good luck charm. Now, over a century later, Pocket serves as unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where stuffed toy animals are refurbished and given a fresh opportunity to be loved. He and his best feline friend Zephyrina, known far and wide as “The Cat Burglar,” have seen it all, and then some. An unforgettable tale of bravery, loyalty, and kindness, Pocket reminds us all that love comes in many forms (sometimes filled with fluff), and that second chances are always possible.

The text skillfully balances the perpetual appeal of animated toys, the warm connections between various characters, and the villainous action of the collector’s thievery to offer readers a well-paced, reassuring tale of friendship with just a bit of mild tension. An earnest consideration of the trauma of war brings added depth: not only was Pocket on the battlefield years ago, but Dasha recently lost her dad to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Fans of Applegate will be pleased with another work that is sweet but not saccharine, cozy but not twee. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Applegate’s latest strikes at the heart, addressing the vitality of empathy, the long-lasting effects of war, and the power of found family. Readers follow the plot through Zephyrina’s perspective and journey from a tough street cat to a loving pet. One can either let their past harden them or let it soften them to the world around them, and the characters of Applegate’s book strive for empathy and softness. School Library Journal, starred review

Final wisdom from the author Katherine Applegate in her author notes:

If you’ve ever loved a stuffed toy, you’ll understand. And if you haven’t, well, there’s still time, as Pocket says. There’s always time.

Companion books:

The Barnabus Project

Barnaby Unboxed

They Threw us Away

Teddy and Co

Dougal the Garbage dump Bear

Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber

Ira loves his teddy bear and he sleeps with his bear every night but now he has the dilemma of a sleepover invitation. Reggie lives next door and Reggie has made big plans for their evening but Ira's sister is the voice of doom. She tells Ira that Reggie won't approve of his bear and even worse Reggie is sure to tease or mock little Ira if he takes his precious bear to the sleep over. Luckily two things happen - mum and dad totally disagree and they tell Ira he should take his bear and then as Reggie and Ira finally snuggle down to sleep Reggie jumps up and retrieves his own teddy bear - so now little Ira has the courage or permission to jump back over the fence and grab his bear Tah Tah.

Bookseller blurb: Ira is thrilled about his first sleepover at his friend Reggie's house, until his sister makes him question taking his favorite teddy bear. Will Reggie laugh at his teddy bear? Can Ira sleep without it? A funny back-and-forth ensues in this classic picture book about staying true to yourself. A perfect read-aloud for every young reader with their own bedtime friends.

I am helping my friend sort some things in her school library. Many years ago, she set up some boxes of books to support a student welfare program. The staff no longer use this program, so we have disbanded the book boxes. Among the titles I saw this US title When Ira Sleeps Over (1972).

Listen to the podcast with Betsy Bird where they discuss this book. There certainly are some funny details in the illustrations such as the old-fashioned standard lamp; dad playing the double bass; music stands; curtain room dividers; the paintings on their walls; and dad is cooking dinner - this is the 1970s so that makes this even more curious. You might also notice the real bottle tops and the curious stamps owned by dad that the kids enjoy using in their game. Dad is clearly a classical musician - we see his double bass and at the end of the book when he opens the door for Ira we see dad holding a classical music record album. 

Even though this book is now quite old I think it is one I could share with a young child - not a group - just your own young reading companion. Bernard Waber (1921-2013) is famous for his books about Lyle Lyle the crocodile. I previously talked about his book Ask Me. You can see more of his books here. The book and CD version of this book Ira Sleeps Over is still available. 

The sequel was published in 1988. 

Here are some discussion questions

Here is my old teddy bear:

Companion book:

You could also look for this very old Australian book:

Meet the Bears: An around the world adventure by Kate Peridot illustrated by Becca Hall

"So, you love bears? Fantastic! You have great taste. Bears are smart. Bears are curious. Bears are strong. And they can smell you coming from miles away."

A father gifts his daughter eight tickets to see the bears of the world. They pack their bear spotting kit with maps, a torch, water bottle, camera, warm clothes and most important of all the young girl takes along her teddy bear. She wants to find out which bear family he belongs to.

Arctic - travel by icebreaker - the polar bear fur white and pale and translucent.
Match - no - her teddy bear does not have white fur.

Alaska - travel by fast plane - the brown bear has brown fur with flecks of blond or black

Match - no - her teddy bear is not brown

Appalachian Mountains - you will need a trail pass - the black bear has short fur

Match - no - her teddy has a long black fur coat

Andes - travel by lama - the spectacled bear looks though she is wearing glasses

Match - no - he has no spectacles

Sri Lanka - take a jeep safari - the sloth bear has very long claws for digging up termites and ants

Match - no - her teddy does not have long claws

Borneo - canoe ride - the sun bear has a very long tongue

Match - no - as you have guessed her teddy bear does not have a long tongue

Tibet - another trail hike - meet the giant panda

Match - no - teddy does have a white face

So who does her teddy belong with? There is one more bear to meet - the Moon Bear from Japan, Korea, Siberia, Pakistan, Taiwan, and China.

On the final pages of this very enjoyable book, written for children aged 4+, there is a double spread explaining the animals that are NOT bears - the red panda; our koala; and a creature called a bearcat which I had not heard of. The bearcat is related to the civet and mongoose. He has a long tail for balancing in trees and white whiskers to help him feel his way around the forest at night. There is also a world map showing all the places the various bears are found. And a bear size chart. And finally some helpful information about staying safe if you are exploring an area where bears live.

This book is the perfect combination of a fiction narrative and nonfiction content. Unfortunately, it is another very expensive book - here in Australia it is listed at over AUS$40. It is published by Welbeck Children's Books from the UK [9781804535110].  If you ever see this book for a price you can afford it would be a good addition to a school library or perhaps you will see a copy to borrow from your own local or school library. Here is the webpage for the author Kate Peridot. Read the Kirkus review.

In your library head to the bear books in the nonfiction section [599.78]. Even though this is a fiction book I would read this one alongside Meet the Bears:

Five Bears

Ragged Bear by Alan Marks illustrated by Brigitte Weninger

"Teddy cried, but because he was already wet, no one could see his tears."

Teddy is very old. He is worn out. The children play with him occasionally but most of the time he is tossed into a corner. Then one day he is left at the park. And it rains. And that night he is thrown into a bin. Luckily kind hands arrive, and this sweet old bear is taken home, washed, dried and most importantly LOVED!

"The smiling child hugged him tight and carried him home. ... he was lovingly brushed until his honey-brown coat shone like gold. His nose was fixed, his ear was repaired, and all the holes in his stomach were sewn up. ... He was still old - and a little bit worn - but he was no longer ragged and torn. And his heart was filled with love."

This bear is a very appealing fellow; he takes center stage—readers see only hands, feet, and shadows of the children—and small adjustments in posture and facial expressions convey his changing emotions and situations beautifully. Deceptively simple, deeply satisfying. Kirkus

When it begins to rain Teddy becomes truly miserable. Wet, with the tear in his tummy and a loose ear, Teddy is the picture of dejection. But then something extraordinary happens, a little child takes Teddy out of the garbage bin when he was thrown and Teddy is taken to his new home. After a bath and some careful repair work Teddy is once again a bear who is ready to be played with and loved, and that is just what happens. Soft blue background washes give a gentle mood to this simply written and beautifully illustrated picture book. There can be no doubt in the reader's mind that Teddy has feelings and needs; his poses and expressions say it all. Looking Glass reviews

Here is my old bear - he is very loved. Scroll down through this post to read more about my Little Ted. 

On a Facebook forum this week someone talked about culling/weeding their library and their fear (I have this fear too) of removing books that are actually treasures. Yes, we do all love new books (and new things and new clothes) but really over the last 30+ years there have been some utterly wonderful children's books published and while some are dated now, many are not.

My book today Ragged Bear was published in 1996. I picked it from a library display entitled 'Cuddle your teddy bear'. I noticed this book was published by North South - you probably already know I am a huge fan of North South books. The library I visit takes a lot of care to cover and process their books which means even old books like this are usually in close to mint condition. Ragged Bear has been borrowed five times since it arrived in the library in 1999. There is absolutely no reason to cull this book. It is a story to treasure and share. 

Please look for these books too - they would be perfect to read with Ragged Bear or just to read if you cannot find Ragged Bear and you want to enjoy books about treasured teddy bears and lost toys or books with a similar emotional tone.

The Sea Saw

Finding Monkey Moon (note the kind comment by the author)

Felix and Alexander

Nothing

Eight