The Boy and the Bear

Written and illustrated by Sarah Massini · Written by Tracey Corderoy

A lonely boy finds an unexpected friend in a bear, sparking a magical journey through the seasons.

4.9/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 177 ratings

32 pages· ~450L

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

A lonely boy discovers a mysterious invitation on a paper boat, leading him to an unexpected friendship with a bear. Though Bear isn't the playmate he imagined, their bond grows as they build a tree house together. As seasons change, the boy learns the true value of friendship when Bear disappears with the winter snow. Will their reunion in spring rekindle the magic of their summer adventures? This heartwarming tale explores the beauty of unlikely friendships and the joy of shared moments.

From the publisher

When a lonely little boy receives an invitation to play written on a paper boat, it seems that he has finally found the best friend he’s been longing for. But Bear isn’t quite the playmate the boy had imagined. Bear may not know how to play games, but when he starts to build a tree house, the boy is intrigued and a magical summer begins. As autumn passes and the first winter snowflakes start to fall, the boy is left alone. Only then does he truly realize how much he misses Bear. It’s a happy reunion when Bear finally returns in the spring.

At a glance

Format: Paperback
Pages: 32
Reading age: 2–5
Audience: Picture
Lexile: ~450L

Themes & topics

Books about friendship Books about bears Books about imagination and play

After the last page

Talk about it together

In the middle of the story, the bear hibernates. Can you think of any other animals that hibernate?

Friendship can be tough. Is the boy always nice to the bear? What do they decide to do when Bear can't play any of the boy's games well? Is your child experiencing any tricky friend situations right now?

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.9

out of 7

“Massini’s charmingly textured and colorful illustrations have a pleasing sense of spaciousness but don’t rescue this title from banality and tedium . . . Boy and bear will have to work a bit harder to compete.”

Kirkus

Critic

The author & illustrator