No, Bear is not cranky or itchy or hungry or even feeling very brave. Bear is just sleepy! Winter is here and Bear is ready to hibernate. But just as Bear is getting his cosy little cave ready for his long sleep, who should appear but that wily old fox with a wicked plan. He secretly wants Bear’s cosy little cave for his own so he flatters Bear:

A great big bear like you … so big and strong and brave,
A creature so magnificent … deserves a bigger cave.

Bear thinks Fox may be right. So he packs his little suitcase and off they go together.

I’m so happy that Nick Bland has added another story to his ‘Bear’ series. The rhyming is superb, the illustrations so evocative and Bear is just as loveable as ever. And this time he’s clever too.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age guide 3