Book Series · 5 Books

Little Bear Books

In order from Little Bear's Friend to Little Bear and the Marco Polo.

The Little Bear series is a set of 5 picture books by Else Holmelund Minarik, published between 1960 and 2009. Written for ages 4–8, most books run about 30 pages.

Little Bear's Friend
Little Bear's Visit
A Kiss for Little Bear
Little Bear's Valentine
Little Bear and the Marco Polo
Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Little Bear's Friend
Sale price
$574
Book #1 · Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1960

Little Bear's Friend

By Else Holmelund Minarik, Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Little Bear finds a way to stay close to a friend who must leave.

64 pages· 1,451 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud
$5.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Little Bear befriends Emily during a joyful summer, but as the season ends, Emily must leave, leaving Little Bear heartbroken. Determined to keep their friendship alive despite the distance, Little Bear embarks on a heartfelt journey to stay connected. Will he find a way to bridge the gap and keep their bond strong? Discover how Little Bear's creativity and warmth overcome the challenges of separation in this charming tale of friendship and resilience.
The complete set

Little Bear Series

5 books · Published 1960–2009

Little Bear's Friend
Series
Sale price
$574

Little Bear's Friend

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1960

Little Bear finds a way to stay close to a friend who must leave.

Little Bear's Visit
#4 in Series
Sale price
$574

Little Bear's Visit

Chapter Book · Ages 4–8 · 1961

Little Bear treasures his grandparents' enchanting stories.

A Kiss for Little Bear
#5 in Series
Sale price
$574

A Kiss for Little Bear

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1968

A thank-you kiss travels through friends, returning to Little Bear.

Little Bear's Valentine
Series
Sale price
$1398

Little Bear's Valentine

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2002

Little Bear receives a mysterious valentine. Who is his secret admirer?

Little Bear and the Marco Polo
Series
Sale price
$1597

Little Bear and the Marco Polo

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2009

Little Bear embarks on a journey of imagination and discovery with Grandfather's tales.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Little Bear series?

There are 5 books in the Little Bear series. It began with Little Bear's Friend in 1960, and the newest book, Little Bear and the Marco Polo, was published in 2009.

What ages are the Little Bear books best for?

The series is best for ages 4–8, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

Which Little Bear book is the longest?

Little Bear's Visit (Book #4) is the longest book in the series at 1,456 words (64 pages).

Which Little Bear book is the shortest?

A Kiss for Little Bear (Book #5) is the shortest at 315 words (32 pages).

The people

The Creatives Behind the Books

The authors and illustrators who bring Little Bear to life.

01

Else Holmelund Minarik

Author
02

Maurice Sendak

Illustrator
03

Heather Green

Illustrator
04

Dorothy Doubleday

Illustrator

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