Brother Hugo and the Bear

By Katy Beebe, S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)

A monk must outsmart a book-eating bear to save his manuscript.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 658 ratings

34 pages· 1,477 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud

$17.00Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Brother Hugo faces an unusual dilemma when a bear devours his library book. Tasked with recreating the manuscript, he meticulously copies each letter. But as he journeys to return the borrowed book, the bear, now with a taste for literature, follows him. Can Hugo protect his work from this persistent predator? This whimsical tale, inspired by a twelfth-century note, invites readers into a world where books are both precious and perilous. Will Hugo's dedication and wit be enough to outmaneuver the bear and preserve his creation?

From the publisher

A clever tale that will charm book lovers Brother Hugo can’t return his library book – the letters of St. Augustine – because, it turns out, the precious book has been devoured by a bear! Instructed by the abbot to borrow another monastery’s copy and create a replacement, the hapless monk painstakingly crafts a new book, copying it letter by letter and line by line. But when he sets off to return the borrowed copy, he finds himself trailed by his hungry new friend. Once a bear has a taste of letters, it appears, he’s rarely satisfied! Brother Hugo and the Bear is loosely based on a note found in a twelfth-century manuscript – and largely on the creative imaginings of author Katy Beebe. Lavishly illustrated by S. D. Schindler in the style of medieval manuscripts, this humorous tale is sure to delight readers who have acquired their own taste for books.

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