What is it about bears that we love so much? Whatever it is about them, they make wonderful characters for kids to relate to and love. From the very beginning of life, we give kids teddy bears, and other toys and blankets covered in the adorable creatures. I decided to gather this list of new bear books for kids to honor these sweet animals that we just want to befriend (and snuggle). So cozy up with your favorite teddy bear and meet the friendly bears in these stories!

Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post. I received copies of these books in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In a Minute, Mama Bear

Written and illustrated by Rachel Bright

This funny story will be familiar to both mothers and their children. Mama Bear is in a rush to get Bella Bear out the door in the morning, but Bella Bear just wants her to slow down and play. As Mama becomes increasingly frustrated with their slow pace, Bella Bear starts to lose some of her joy. Once they are finally in the car, Mama Bear decides to forget the stressful plans of the day, and instead drives them to the park for a fun filled day of mother-child bonding time.

Both kids and parents will appreciate the humor throughout the story (and may recognize some familiar moments from their own day), and will love the sweet ending.

Check out this list for more books about mothers!

How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear?

Written by Vanessa Bayer and illustrated by Rosie Butcher

This beautiful book was inspired by the SNL actress’ real life battle with leukemia when she was fifteen years old. The story follows two adorable little bears who love to play, laugh, and explore together. But one day, one of the bears becomes very sick, and the other little bear doesn’t know what to do to help.

The text outlines all of the ways that the bear can help her friend, from making her treats to sitting and listening to her. The illustrations pair beautifully with the text, with the adorable bear characters reflecting the frightened or uncertain feelings that kids in this situation may be feeling. This is a great book for talking to kids about helping loved ones who are sick, and helping them to explore how their loved one may be feeling.

Bear’s Scare

Written and illustrated by Jacob Grant

Bear likes to keep his house nice and tidy, and he loves spending time with his stuffed animal Ursa. But when Bear discovers a spider web in his house, he goes on a mission to find the messy spider and chase him out. But his search leads to a big mess and an injury for poor Ursa. While Bear is off trying to find a way to help his stuffed friend, the little spider comes to the rescue. This sweet story reminds the reader that friends can be found in unexpected places, and that we shouldn’t judge others.

Bear Out There

Written and illustrated by Jacob Grant

This sequel to Bear’s Scare follows Bear and Spider as they go on an adventure to find Spider’s lost kite. Bear does not like the outdoors, but he is willing to venture out to help his friend Spider. As they continue on through the forest, they encounter worsening conditions, and eventually Bear decides that he just wants to go back to his comfy home. But Bear also wants to make his friend happy, so they work together and eventually find a compromise that makes them both happy. This is a great story about friendship and being there for those that you love, while also learning to work together and compromise.

Related Post: Dance and Move with Bear!

Bear’s Book

Written by Claire Freedman and illustrated by Alison Friend

Bear loves to read, but he has read  his book so many times that it has fallen apart. To replace his lost book, Bear decides to write his own stories. When he can’t find a way to start, he goes out to find inspiration and ends up helping his animal friends with their own problems. However, he soon realizes that his friends have given him the inspiration he needs. The book includes a fold out page that is illustrated like Bear’s finished book, and the illustrations throughout feature cute and fluffy characters that kids will love. And they may just be inspired to write some of their own adventure tales featuring their friends too!

So Big!

Written and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

It is the first day of school, and the little bear in the story is so excited to be heading to school. He gets up and gets ready for the day, only to find when he gets to the bus and the building, that he may not be as big as he thought he was. The text is simple, mostly using the phrase “so big” in different ways to show how the little bear feels. The illustrations paired with the text show how the phrase can mean different things depending on the situation. In the end, the little bear finds another friend who is struggling with the large milestone ahead of them, and together they conquer the day.

Check out this list for more kindergarten books for kids!

Welcome to Morningtown

Written by Blake Liliane Hellman and illustrated by Steven Henry

This adorable book follows a little bear and his family as they get up and prepare for the beautiful day ahead. The text explores all of the different animal families in Morningtown and how they begin their days. The simple, lyrical text and cute animal illustrations are full of tidbits about animals and their habits and homes, although they are also shown performing several acts like humans. The story walks kids through all of the steps to starting a brand new day and celebrates all of the new adventures that each day has in store.

Caspian Finds a Friend

Written by Jacqueline Veissid and illustrated by Merrilees Brown

Caspian is a young boy who lives in a lighthouse by the sea. He spends his days wishing for a friend, but no one comes. So one day he decides to do something about it. He writes a note and puts it in a glass bottle, then waits for a response. When he finally gets one, he hops in a boat and follows it to a new friend. The corresponding illustrations are beautiful and textured, portraying the sweet friendship between a lonely young boy and an adorable polar bear.

What are your favorite bear books for kids? Share in the comments below!

More Posts You May Enjoy: