Cuddly Carnivores

FOR THE RECORD Cuddly Carnivores

Twelve Bedtime Picture Books about Bears (That Don’t Feature a Pooh, Paddington, or Berenstain)

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hat is it about little kids and their bears? I mean, seriously. Didn’t anyone ever tell them that their favorite children’s storybook characters are actually vicious apex predators quite capable of tearing their faces off? Didn’t they ever see The Revenant? I guess not. Kids just seem to love bears, at least fictional ones.

Over the past century, bears have become nearly omnipresent in children’s literature. Winnie-the-Pooh debuted in 1926, followed by Paddington in 1958, the Berenstain Bears in 1962, and Corduroy in 1968. In the decades since, as the number of bear-related children’s books has only ballooned, ursine characters have also featured in a seemingly endless stream of animated children’s shows and movies (Kung Fu Panda, anyone?). All told, bears might just be the most common anthropomorphized animal in all of children’s entertainment.

Personally, I wonder if Teddy Roosevelt isn’t to blame for all of this. It was T. R., after all, who—on a 1902 hunting expedition in Mississippi—supposedly deemed it “unsportsmanlike” to shoot an American black bear who’d been captured and tied to a willow tree, thus garnering him a nickname he hated, and inspiring inventor Morris Michtom to fashion the first “teddy bear” and put it up for sale in the window of his Brooklyn candy shop. Maybe our childhood obsession with these cuddly carnivores

can indeed be traced to teddies, which are of course the world’s best-known snuggle buddies. Who didn’t have a favorite teddy bear growing up? I certainly did—a soft, plump, pantsless Pooh Bear that I hugged closer than any other stuffed animal I ever owned.

Perhaps our pairing of bedtimes with bears does make some sense: What large mammals better connote deep sleep and general coziness? At the very least, bears are the species most associated with hibernation. Whatever the reason, lovable bear characters have come to play a special role in the bedtime routines of countless children, one that will surely continue for generations to come. Thus, in honor of this association, here are 12 wonderful, whimsical children’s books about bears, in chronological order, for you to add to your collection:

1.) Blueberries for Sal (1948) Written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey With gorgeous blue-toned illustrations, this McCloskey classic tells the story of a little girl named Sal and a bear cub who both get separated from their mothers while hunting wild blueberries on a Maine hillside. For a few hilarious moments, the two somehow swap places, each gleefully bounding along after the wrong mother. As the saying goes, “To the pure, all things are pure.” Of course, this peaceable kingdom scene doesn’t last long, and yet, after considerable ruckus, somehow everyone still manages to get their fill of fructose.

2.) A Pocket for Corduroy (1978) Written and illustrated by Don Freeman It would probably be impossible to top a beloved tale like Corduroy (1968). But did you know Don Freeman wrote a second Corduroy book? In this charming 1978 sequel, Lisa takes her favorite toy bear on a trip to the laundromat, where Corduroy promptly gets lost and ends up being left behind for the night. Among other things, Corduroy soon befriends a bearded hippie man in a beret, and manages to turn a box of soap into a ski slope, before falling asleep in a laundry basket. Thankfully, faithful Lisa returns to find him first thing in the morning!

3.) The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear (1984) Written by Don and Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood Okay, this story doesn’t technically feature a bear—just the rumor of one—but it’s a book for the ages! In delightfully interactive fashion, the wily narrator manages to convince a winsome, industrious little mouse that his prized strawberry will soon be gobbled up by a ravenous bear. After trying everything to protect it, mouse is finally arm-twisted into sharing the strawberry with the narrator, which of

FOR THE RECORD

FOR THE RECORD course turns out to be the best way to enjoy it. With priceless illustrations, this fun, slightly ominous book is sure to get a giggle from both you and your little one.

4.) Bear Shadow (1985) Written and illustrated by Frank Asch You really can’t go wrong with Frank Asch. His Moonbear series is full of beautifully illustrated, deceptively simple classics like Happy Birthday, Moon (1982), Milk and Cookies (1982), and Moonbear’s Dream (1999). This charming 1985 tale stands out, however—perhaps because of the subtle lesson it holds about human nature. One day, after a frustrating fishing experience, Bear decides to get rid of his shadow. He tries all kinds of things to shake it, but in the end nothing works, and he falls asleep in despair. It’s only when Bear finally gives up and makes peace with his shadow that they’re both able to catch a fish.

5.) We're Going on a Bear Hunt (1989) Written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury It’s no wonder that this 1989 classic has sold more than 9 million copies. It boasts lively illustrations, fun wordplay, a delightful sing-a-long text set to an American folk tune, and an exciting family adventure. Indeed, in their bold quest to find one of nature’s most feared beasts, our intrepid protagonists must brave all manner of obstacles—a deep river, a muddy swamp, a dark forest, a fierce snowstorm, and even a spooky (and possibly inhabited) cave. This unforgettable tale does a great job of teaching children to face their fears, but also to occasionally pay attention to them—such as when being chased by an angry bear!

6.) Bear Snores On (2002) Written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman Not surprisingly, there are lots of children’s books about sleepy or sleeping bears. Two of my favorites include Goodnight Already! (2014) by Jory John and Bear Is Not Tired (2016) by Ciara Gavin. But this simple lyrical bestseller from 2002 is the cream of the crop. It’s a brutal winter outside, but bear is safely snoring away in his den. One by one, his frigid friends— mouse, hare, badger, gopher, mole, raven, and wren—take shelter in the den, and soon are having a jolly time together, while bear snores on. But suddenly, when bear wakes up, all bets are off, and everyone will have to learn a thing or two about both the delights and responsibilities of friendship.

7.) Baby Bear Sees Blue (2012) Written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff One of the amazing things about bears is that many females actually give birth while in hibernation and then nurse their cubs for weeks before ever venturing outside. This story begins at the moment when a mother bear and her inquisitive cub first emerge from the den. Baby Bear marvels at each new sight he discovers—warm yellow sunshine, green oak leaves, blue birds, brown trout,

red strawberries. Playful and lushly illustrated, this book is a perfect way to teach toddlers their colors and instill a sense of wonder as well.

8.) Finding Winnie (2015) Written by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall Winner of the Caldecott Medal, this book recounts the heartwarming story of Harry Colebourn and the bear that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. It’s 1914 and Colebourn is a Canadian soldier on his way to fight in World War I. In a chance encounter, he adopts a baby black bear and names her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg. Amazingly, she becomes a mascot for Colebourn’s unit, even joining the soldiers in England before eventually ending up at the London Zoo. It’s there, a few years later, where she is visited by a young Christopher Robin…

9.) Mother Bruce (2015) Written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins Bruce the bear is a delightful curmudgeon. He hates sunshine, hates rain, and hates other animals. All he wants is to be left alone and to eat eggs, which he cooks into all kinds of “fancy recipes.” (He’s a bit of a foodie.) One day, while cooking up some goose eggs, he has a most unpleasant experience: the eggs hatch into four little goslings! Worst of all: they take Bruce for their mother. Day after day, Bruce tries to get rid of them, but to no avail. Finally, when his goslings have to go south for the winter, Bruce begrudgingly accepts his new role, and opts to spend the rest of his winters in Miami. It just goes to show: sometimes love makes its own plans!

10.) The Bear Ate Your Sandwich (2015) Written and illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach If bears are big sleepers first, they are big eaters second. Kathleen Doherty’s Don’t Feed the Bear (2018) and David Ezra Stein’s Honey (2018) are just a few of the great “hungry bear” books from recent years, but this comical, richly-colored story from 2015 is sure to be a child favorite. Somewhere in the California countryside a nosy black bear comes upon a pickup truck loaded with fresh berries. Naturally, he climbs aboard and gorges himself until he falls asleep. But when he wakes, he finds himself lost in a “new forest” called San Francisco, and must somehow find his way home—not to mention his next meal! Stay tuned for the surprise ending.

FOR THE RECORD

FOR THE RECORD 11.) The Grizzly Bear Who Lost His GRRRRR! (2016) Written and illustrated by Rob Biddulph Fred isn’t just any average grizzly bear. He’s the best. Every year he wins the “Best Bear in the Wood Contest,” and he trains hard to earn that title—so hard that he doesn’t have time for friends. But one day, when a new bear shows up to challenge him, Fred loses his GRRRRR! In order to get it back, he’ll have to get help from all kinds of animals that he never paid attention to, and he’ll have to learn that there are more important things than being the best. This fun read is full of law-and-gospel themes for kids (and adults).

12.) I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared (2022) Written by Seth Meyers and illustrated by Rob Sayegh If this is any indication, I’d love more comics to write children’s lit. Hilarious and charmingly-illustrated, it offers great lessons for kids about dealing with anxiety and sacrificing for our friends. Although he may be big, the bear in this story is more of a scaredy-cat—petrified by almost everything, including his own reflection. But his friend, a rabbit, is the opposite. One day, after swearing off adventures, Bear learns that Rabbit is in real danger. To save him, Bear must discover the courage he never knew he had, and brave all kinds of dangers…