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Bad Bear Detectives: An Irving & Muktuk Story, written by Daniel Pinkwater, illus. by Jill Pinkwater, (Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Residents of the New Jersey Bayonne Zoo, Irving and Muktuk, two muffin-loving polar bears, are the only suspects in the theft of a shipment of Italian blueberry muffins. Determined to clear their names, they put on disguises, interview the night watchman, and sniff out the trail of the thief. When the trail surprisingly leads back to their quarters in the zoo, their short memories suddenly return. As they wolf down the remaining muffins, the lovable duo decide that the delightful meal is worth the consequences-locked in their room at night and picking up trash at the zoo for a year.

Bad Bears and a Bunny, written by Daniel Pinkwater, illus. by Jill Pinkwater, (Houghton Mifflin, 2005), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Irving and Muktuk are polar bears who live at the zoo. They do not have good reputations due to some behavior problems. Invited to a hotel party, they try to fit in, but their behavior is tested when a bunny, which they teased in the past, shows up.

Bad Bears in the Big City: An Irving & Muktuk Story, written by Daniel Pinkwater, illus. by Jill Pinkwater, (Houghton Mifflin & Co., 2003 HC, 2006 PB), 32p, Ages 4-8.
A zany story about food cravings, consequences of pilfering, and two lovable, but incorrigible muffin-loving polar bears. Sent to the Bayonne Zoo in New Jersey as punishment for unnamed crimes in Alaska, Irving and Muktuk soon discover a muffin factory next to the zoo. One day when the zoo is closed, they sneak out and join a school tour through the factory, gulping down as many muffins as possible. When discovered, they seek shelter in a supermarket freezer. Roy, a better-behaved polar bear, finds them and returns them to the zoo. They settle back into zoo life, emphatically state that they never ate people, and secretly dream of muffins.

Bear's Eggs, written and illus. by Ingrid & Dieter Schubert, (Front Street, 1999), 32 p. Ages 3-7.
Bear does things he never imagined when he finds three eggs and discovers that being a parent has its challenges. The fun begins when Bear has to do some very unbearlike things to raise his new family.

Bear Feels Scared, written by Karma Wilson, illus. by Jane Chapman, (McElderry Books, 2008), 40p, Ages 3-7.
The beloved bear from Bear Snores On and Bear Feels Sick is back and scared after becoming lost in the woods. As a storm blows in, the wide-eyed Bear curls up under the roots of a tree, shivering and alone. His friends begin to worry and organize a search party. With a lantern and rescue equipment, they finally rescue Bear, return to the cozy den, tuck him under the covers, and snuggle together for the night. "Cuddled up tight, they snore through the night. And the bear feels safe." This latest installment in the series is a great read-aloud for children, and may lead to discussions about security and fears.

Bears on Chairs, written by Shirley Parenteau, illus. by David Walker, (Candlewick Press, 2009), 32p, Ages 2-5.
Four adorable small bears fit nicely into four small chairs, until Big Brown Bear arrives looking for his own chair. "That big bear/needs one whole chair./There's none to spare/for Big Brown Bear." They experiment with several arrangements, but Big Bear is just too big. Only when the chairs are placed together in a row is there room for everyone. The storyline is perfect for teaching little ones sharing and kindness.

Big Brown Bear Goes To Town, written/illus. David McPhail, (Harcourt, Inc., 2006), 40p,
Ages 3-7.
A simple act of kindness by Bear makes this story a wonderful read aloud for children. One morning when Bear collects his mail, he realizes that Rat's little yellow car is full of rainwater. Bear removes the water, goes to town, and purchases a mailbox for Rat's little car. Rat is so touched by Bear's generosity that he shares his special oatmeal and brown sugar meal.

Big Brown Bear's Up and Down Day, written/illus. David McPhail, (Harcourt, Inc., 2003 HC, Voyager Books, 2006 pb), 48p, Ages 3-7.
In a short three-chapter book, Bear wakes up to see one of his slippers moving across the floor. It seems that Rat needs a bed. After a heated discussion, Rat relinquishes his claim and scurries back to his hole. In chapter two, Rat shows up again, dressed in a top hat and carrying a briefcase, declaring that Bear has won a trip to anywhere in the world, but there are absolutely no slippers allowed. Bear decides not to go, but invites Rat to breakfast. In chapter three when Bear searches for his baseball and mitt, he finds one old worn slipper, perfect for a new bed for Rat. A simple story about friendship and sharing.

A Birthday for Bear, written by Bonny Becker, illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton, (Candlewick Press), 56p, Ages 4-7.
The endearing duo from A Visitor for Bear returns in an amusing confrontation over birthdays. "Bear didn't like birthdays. He didn't like birthday parties or balloons. He didn't like birthday cards or songs or candles." However, Mouse loves birthdays. In four chapters, Mouse presents Bear with an invitation to his party, written by Mouse. Apologizing for his "shameful trickery", Mouse returns as a deliveryman with red balloons, a postman with a birthday greeting, and a miniature Santa dragging a present down the chimney. Bear always sees through the devious behavior and angrily sweeps Mouse out the door. When Bear spies a pink package on his doorstep containing a lovely chocolate cake, Mouse pops out of the cake, and Bear rethinks birthday parties. Mouse's relentless determination and persistence prevail, as Bear enjoys the cake, balloons, present (red roller skates from Mouse) and most of all their friendship. v

Emma in Charge, written/illus. by David McPhail, (Dutton Children's Books, 2005), 24p,
Ages 3+.
Being in charge is hard work, as Emma discovers when she takes her favorite dolls through a busy day. There's breakfast, school, recess, music, a doctor visit, and even a class trip. Thank goodness for naptime.

Humphrey's Bear, written by Jan Wahl, illus. by William Joyce, (Henry Holt Books., 2005 HC, 2005 PB), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Updated from the 1977 classic, Humphrey has a wonderful adventure at sea with his toy bear after they retire for the night. He especially enjoys the hot chocolate that bear makes - just as his father did before him.

I'll Never Share You, Blackboard Bear, written & illus. by Martha Alexander, (Candlewick
Press, 2003), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Sharing is the theme of another fine book in the Blackboard Bear series. Anthony refuses to share his friend with Gloria and Stewart, but Blackboard bear has another point of view to consider.

Little Bear's Little Boat, written by Eve Bunting, illus. by Nancy Carpenter, (Clarion Books,
2003), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Little Bear and his boat are inseparable, but when he experiences growing pains, Mother Bear explains that his destiny is to grow big, but the boat must stay the same. He finds another small bear to enjoy his boat, and shares the story about growing up and passing on treasures.

Little Teddy Left Behind, written by Anne Mangan, illus. by Joanne Moss, (Good Books, 2006), 28p, Ages 4-7.
Imagine waking up to discover that your family left you behind when they moved. As Little Teddy ponders his circumstances, a cleaning lady finds him and dumps him into the washing machine, thus beginning a series of adventures that eventually reunite him with his family. Marvelous illustrations accompany this heart-warming stoy of a small red-sweatered teddy bear in search of his family.

Maybe the Bear Ate It!, written by Robie H. Harris, illus. by Michael Emberley, (Orchard Books, 2008), 40p, Ages 3-5.
In an effort to locate his favorite book at bedtime, a young child considers various scenarios that might have befallen his precious book: "Maybe a Stegosaurus stomped on it!", "Maybe a Rhino ran away with it!", or "Maybe a Shark swallowed it!" Of course, the bear is a likely culprit, because of his appetite for books. Children will enjoy the child's frantic search and his enthusiastic relief on finding the book in the bed covers. The creative story and infectious illustrations make this book a great choice for bedtime and a wonderful first book for children who are learning to read.

The Million Dollar Bear, written by William Kotswinkle, illus. by David Catrow, (Alfred A. Knopf, 1995), 48p, Ages 4-8.
Even though he is old and threadbare, this teddy is the most valuable bear in the world. Locked up in a waterproof, burglarproof, and bulletproof vault by his owner, Argyle Oldhouse, he longs for freedom and love. In a series of mishaps, this little teddy finds the freedom and love he longs for in a new family.

My Friend Bear, written & illus. by Jez Alborough, (Candlewick Press, 1998), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Eddie and Bear, from Where's My Teddy? and It's the Bear!, finally unite in this charming story of loneliness and friendship. Both desire a friend but all they have are their teddy bears, and everyone knows teddies can't talk. On the other hand or maybe they can.

Paddington at the Beach, written by Michael Bond, illus. by R. W. Alley, (HarperCollins, 2209), 32p, Ages 2-6.
Paddington's day at the beach is interrupted by ten seagulls, which make pithy comments on his sandcastle, a lost bucket, and his ability to fly a kite. When Paddington stretches out on a beach chair to nap, the greedy and hungry seagulls spy his lunch snack and dive to take bites. Paddington is not too worried. "Seagulls don't know everything, . . . I always keep a marmalade sandwich under my hat, just in case!" Happily he takes a break on a rock, enjoying his sandwich in peace.

Paddington Here and Now, written by Michael Bond, illus. by R. W. Alley, (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008), 176p, Ages 8-12.
After a thirty-year break, Paddington Bear returns in a series of humorous adventures about an accident-prone, extremely polite, and hopelessly optimistic small bear. Born in Darkest Peru, Paddington now lives at number thirty-two Windsor Gardens with the Browns, who found him on a railway platform and took him home. As Paddington would explain, "Things happen to me: I'm that sort of Bear." In seven chapters, Paddington's adventures involve losing his shopping cart on wheels and a mix-up at the police station, which almost lands him in jail. He accidentally locks a crabby neighbor out of his house on Halloween. Paddington finds himself on stage at a concert because a promoter mistakenly believes that he is a concert pianist, and a telemarketer misinterprets Paddington's responses to his questions, which makes for exciting news in a local paper. Since his first adventure in A Bear Called Paddington, this marmalade-loving little bear with a heart of gold has entertained children for fifty years. The gentle humor, double meanings, and clever wordplay will have fans clamoring for more Paddington adventures.

The Perfect Bear, written by Gillian Shields, illus. by Gary Blythe, (Simon & Schuster, 2008), 32p, Ages 4-8.
An elegant, white stuffed bear believes that he is perfect. After all, the store sign said "DO NOT TOUCH". When he is given to a little girl, she loves him unconditionally. Over time he becomes dirty, worn, and even loses his music box. Complaining to a pink rabbit about his appearance, he is reminded that "It's so much better to be loved than admired". When lost in a department store, he remembers that the little girl dressed him warmly, gave him honey to eat, and sewed up his tummy where the music box used to be. Realizing his love for her, he no longer minds being an ordinary gray toy. The illustrations are wonderfully expressive: a sad-faced little bear with his ears clothes-pinned to a line while drying, a little girl lovingly feeding her favorite bear honey, and the happiness of finding perfect love.

Red Ted and the Lost Things, written by Michael Rosen, illus. by Joel Stewart, (Candlewick Press, 2009). 40p, Ages 4-7.
Left at a train station by his owner, a small bear finds himself placed in the lost property office with hundreds of other lost belongings. A stuffed crocodile informs him that they reside in the Place for Lost Things where most things never leave. After crying a bit, the two devise a clever scheme to escape and locate Red Ted's owner, Stevie. "The next morning, when the Man in the Hat came in, Red Ted hopped down off the shelf. So Crocodile hopped down off the shelf too, and together they rushed out the door." The two are joined by a cheese-loving white cat, who tracks Stevie's smelly trail. Many obstacles await the trio, including a dachshund, which Crocodile frightens off with his sharp teeth. Upon reaching home, all three are accepted into Stevie's family and given plenty of love and cheese for the cat. Where there is purpose, persistence, and a cheese-sniffing cat, success is just a matter of time.

The Tangerine Bear, written by Betty Paraskevas, illus. by Michael Paraskevas, (HarperCollins, 1997), 32p, Ages 4-7.
What's a bear to do when he finds himself for sale in the window of a second-hand store on the wrong side of town? All because of an upside-down smile. Mother and son have teamed up to present a sweet, touching story of happiness found in he most unlikely places.

There's a Hole in My Bucket, written & illus. by Ingrid & Dieter Schubert, (Front Street, Books, 1998), 28p, Ages 4-7.
Bear's flowers are thirsty, but his water bucket leaks. In a comic series of events, Bear and his friend Hedgehog attempt to repair the hole.

Three Stories You Can read to Your Teddy Bear, written by Sara Swan Miller, illus. by True
Kelly, (Houghton Mifflin Co., 2004), 48p, Ages 4-7.
A bored teddy bear, left behind every day, decides to venture out and inadvertently creates trouble for the family's cat and dog. Read this chapter book aloud to your child with a teddy bear.

A Visitor for Bear, written by Bonny Becker, illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton, (Candlewick Press, 2008), 56p, Ages 2-6.
"No visitors allowed" reads the sign on Bear's front door. "No one ever came to Bear's house. It had always been that way, and Bear was quite sure he didn't like visitors." However, all this changes after a small, gray, wide-eyed mouse knocks on Bear's door. When rebuffed, mouse turns up in the cupboard asking for a cup of tea, in a drawer inquiring about a bit of cheese, and finally in the refrigerator. Bear boots him out and grows increasingly frustrated to the point of boarding up windows, cementing the chimney, and plugging the bathtub drain. When mouse shows up in the teakettle, an exhausted Bear breaks down and relents. The two become friends, discovering that they have many things in common. Bear decides that his sign is for salesmen, not for friends, and a lasting friendship begins. The story and language lend very well to reading aloud. The characters are lovable and endearing, even the grumpy one.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt, written by Michael Rosen, illus. by Helen Oxenbury, (McElderry Books, 2009), 40p, Ages 4-8.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, this classic tells of a brave father, his four children, and pet dog, who find adventure in hunting a bear. "We're going on a bear hunt. /We are going to catch a big one. /What a beautiful day! /we're not scared." Whenever they experience an obstacle, they declare, "We can't go over it. /We cannot go under it. /Oh, no! / We've got to go through it!" Running, climbing, crawling, and trudging through grass (swishy swashy), cold water (splash splosh), mud (squelch squerch), and a snow storm (hoooo wooo), they stumble upon a dark cave, inhabited by an unfriendly bear. Quickly retracing their steps (followed by the bear), they hurry home, bare the door, and hide under the covers, exclaiming no more bear hunts. The final scene depicts the bear tromping home to his cave. Children will love the clever language and good-natured antics of a family determined to experience adventure.

We're in Big Trouble, Blackboard Bear, written & illus. by Martha Alexander,
(Candlewick Press, 1980), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Things have disappeared during the night - goldfish from a pond, honey from a windowsill, and berries from a bush. Anthony's friends notice that the paw prints left behind are just like Blackboard Bears.

Willow by the Sea, written & illus. by Camilla Ashforth, (Candlewick Press, 2002), 32 p,
Ages 4-7.
A sweet and gentle story of one little bear's desire to see and hear the ocean. Wanting to share the experience, he invites the farm animals to come along.

Zen Ties, written/illus. by Jon J. Muth, (Scholastic Press, 2008), 40p, Ages 4-8.
Lessons of doing ones best and looking beyond appearances are taught to young children by the giant panda, Stillwater. Along with his visiting nephew, Koo, Addy, Michael, and Karl are encouraged to look past a grouchy neighbor's crankiness and understand her loneliness. At Stillwater's urging they take her soup, help clean her house, and draw her pictures. Their efforts are rewarded when Miss Whitaker, a retired English teacher, coaches one of the children for a spelling bee and makes an old family recipe of apple tea for everyone. The author's note explains the roots of haiku that Koo speaks through the book. Haiku is "a short poem of three lines, usually stressing five, then seven, then five syllables". This story of compassion and friendship reaffirms the importance of our ties to one another.