All young children will love the engaging picture books in this Bears Themed Booklist.
Bears Themed Booklist for kids
Why Do Bears Sleep All Winter? by Jane Duden
Why Do Bears Sleep All Winter? provides an explanation of what hibernation is including why animals hibernate, and how they do it.
Looking for Sleepy, by Maribeth Boelts
When Little Bear protests at bedtime because he cannot find some “Sleepy,” Papa helps him look in the bath, in his pajamas, and even in his bed.
Polar Bear Island, by Lindsay Bonilla
“Welcome to Polar Bear Island. NO OTHERS ALLOWED!” Parker is the mayor of this peaceful, predictable island, and he wants to keep it just the way it is. But Kirby, a penguin, thinks the place is paradise, and she wants to stay. Parker says no, but the other polar bears love Kirby —and soon they’re begging Parker to let Kirby (and her family) move in. Will Parker agree . . . and make the island fun for EVERYONE?
Time to Sleep, by Denise Fleming
A chill is in the air and Bear knows it is time for her winter nap. But first, she must tell Snail. And Snail must tell Skunk. And Skunk must tell Turtle. Each animal who tries to put off going to sleep just a little longer sees, smells, hears, or tastes the signs of the impending season. Finally, Ladybug rushes off to tell Bear–already asleep in her cave–the exciting news.
Don’t Worry Bear, by Greg Foley
When Caterpillar tells Bear that he is making a cocoon, Bear is worried. Will Caterpillar be safe? Will he be warm? Will he stay dry? Throughout the long winter, Caterpillar reassures him that all is fine. But the day comes when Caterpillar?s cocoon is empty and Bear begins worrying all over again. Until a beautiful silk moth lands on his paw. ?Don?t worry, Bear,? he says. ?I?m right here.?
I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda, by Steve Antony
Mr. Panda’s black-and-white animal friends are curious what he’s making, but only one has the patience to stick around. An alpaca, an aardvark, rabbits, and a bird all wind up missing out. It’s the penguin who declares, “I’ll wait, Mr. Panda.” The penguin is rewarded with a big SURPRISE: a giant doughnut!
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle
A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck–all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle’s flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill Martin’s singsong text, they create unforgettable images of these endearing animals.
Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McClosky
Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother a picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter. Meanwhile Sal’s mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one?
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen
We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one.
Will you come too? Join a father and his four young children as they cross a field of tall, wavy grass, wade through a deep, cold river, struggle through swampy mud, find their way through a big, dark forest, fight through a whirling snowstorm, and enter finally enter a narrow, gloomy cave. What will they find there? You’ll have to read on to find out!
Leaves, by David Ezra Stein
Bear is surprised when the leaves start falling off the trees, but when he tries to reattach them, it doesn’t work. Eventually, he gets sleepy, and burrows into the fallen leaves for a long nap. When he wakes up, it’s spring-and there are suddenly brand-new leaves all around, seeming to welcome him.
Santa Bruce, by Ryan T. Higgins
Bruce is a lot of things. He is a bear. He is a grump. He is a pretty decent cook. And he is a mother.
One thing Bruce is not?
Santa Claus.
But that doesn’t stop the whole forest from lining up to give him their Christmas wishes when he becomes the victim of mistaken identity―again.
Corduroy, by Don Freeman
Celebrate 50 years of the beloved teddy bear.
2018 marks Corduroy’s 50th anniversary, and Don Freeman’s classic character is even more popular today than he was when he first came on the scene. Now his original story is available in an unabridged, sturdy board book format, perfect for even the youngest readers.
Good Night, Baby Bear, by Frank Asch
Winter is coming and Mama Bear has found the perfect spot for hibernating. But Baby Bear doesn’t want to go to sleep. First he wants a snack. Then he wants a drink. And now he wants the moon! What is loving, but very sleepy, Mama Bear to do?
Where’s My Teddy? by Jez Alborough
Eddy’s lost his teddy, Freddy, so he goes off into the woods in search of the missing bear. The dark, horrible woods hold a gigantic surprise for Eddy, who discovers his teddy bear has grown much too big to cuddle. Could it be a case of mistaken identity?
A Story for Small Bear, by Alice B. McGinty
Autumn is ending and a chilly breeze is drifting in, which can mean only one thing– it’s time to hibernate over the long winter. But before Small Bear does, she’d like for Mama to tell her some stories. Mama agrees, with one condition: all the preparation must get done– no dilly, no dally. So Small Bear tries to be good, venturing off to find sprigs for her winter bed, splishing and splashing in the stream, and climbing up, up, up into the tall forest trees in search of acorns. When she finally returns home, Small Bear snuggles down with Mama in their den. Did she make it back in time? “You did,” Mama answers, and pulls her in close. And then Mama tells the most wonderful tale of a little bear–just like Small Bear–who, while enjoying the world around her, saved just enough time for stories.
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright
It’s time for Big Bear to hibernate, so Old Man Winter keeps telling him: “Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep.” But Big Bear doesn’t hear very well. He thinks Old Man Winter has told him to drive a jeep, to sweep, and to leap. Big Bear just can’t seem to hear what Old Man Winter is saying. Finally, Old Man Winter finds a noisy way to get Big Bear’s attention.
Goldy Luck and the Three pandas, by Natasha Yim
It’s Chinese New Year, and Goldy Luck’s mother wants her to take a plate of turnip cakes to the neighbors. The Chans aren’t home, but that doesn’t stop Goldy from trying out their rice porridge, their chairs, and their beds—with disastrous results.
Bear Stays Up For Christmas, by Karma Wilson
Bear’s friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up—by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents of all!
Poles Apart, by Jeanne Willis & Jarvis
Everybody knows that penguins live at the South Pole and polar bears live at the North Pole—but what would happen if, one day, a family of picnicking penguins accidentally got lost? When the hapless Pilchard-Brown family find themselves at the wrong pole, they need Mr. White, a friendly polar bear, to guide them all the way home.
Polar Bear Night, by Lauren Thompson
One keen, clear night, a polar bear cub wakes inside her warm den. Something in the moonlit stillness quietly beckons. What is it?The little cub sets out for the snow and sky and sea and ice, and the moon follows. So begins a magical journey through a starlit world filled with love and wonder.
My Friend Bear, by jez Alborough
Eddie’s feeling sad, and so is the bear. They both wish they had a friend to talk to. All they have are their teddies, and teddies can’t talk. Or can they?
Hibernation Station, by Michelle Meadows
Everybody at the station! It’s time for winter hibernation! The sweet rhyming text of this book will calm even the most rambunctious kids and have them dreaming about what it’s like to hibernate.
Bear Snores On, by karma Wilson
One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear’s cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on!
See what happens when he finally wakes up and finds his cave full of uninvited guests—all of them having a party without him!
The Bear’s Winter House, by John Yeoman
When Bear receives some unexpected guests, he is in for a more exciting winter than he expected!