Pup and Bear

Written by Kate Banks · Illustrated by Naoko Stoop

A lost wolf pup finds unexpected family with a polar bear.

4.9/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 918 ratings

40 pages· 739 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud· AD620L

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

A wolf pup, adrift on ice, is rescued by a nurturing polar bear. Though not his mother, she offers warmth and safety. As he grows, he must face the world alone. Years later, he encounters a lost polar bear cub, echoing his own past. This touching tale of unexpected family and kindness explores the bonds that form beyond blood, resonating with those who find love in surprising places.

From the publisher

This deeply emotional read-aloud about a lost wolf pup who is raised by a loving polar bear is sure to resonate with families - particularly non-traditional ones.

You are not my mother, said the wolf pup.

I am not your mother, said the polar bear, but I can cuddle you and keep you safe.

Here is a picture book that celebrates differences and promotes kindness, sure to resonate with the many fans of the beloved classic, Mama Do You Love Me? During the ice melt that follows an Arctic winter, a wolf cub finds himself spinning out to sea on a sheet of ice. He awakes lost and alone to an unfamiliar smell: a polar bear. And while the polar bear is not the wolf’s mother, she takes him on her back to her den, where she feeds him, keeps him warm, and does everything a mother would do. Time passes, the cub grows into a wolf, and soon it’s time for him to venture out into the wide world alone. Years later, the now grown wolf comes upon a tiny lost polar bear cub–and the cycle begins again. With poetic prose this beautiful picture book about the love and kindness of a stranger is sure to touch a deep chord, particularly with parents and children who have found each other in unexpected ways.

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