Best Bear Books for Preschoolers
WRITTEN BY ABI CUSHMAN
When I first came up with the idea for my debut picture book, SOAKED!, the image I drew in my sketchbook was of a very soggy, very miserable bear. I worried about writing a book with a bear as the main character because there are so many other exceptional picture books starring bears. But that glum, wet bear kept popping up in my drawings, so I decided to go for it and write a bear book anyway. And I’m glad I did because I think there’s something compelling and relatable about bears that both kids and adults feel drawn to.
I want to share my list of the best bear books for preschoolers. These picture books are not only great read alouds, they also highlight a range of emotions and model good friend behavior–all important topics for the preschool crowd. And bonus: many of these bear books are really funny too.
Soaked! by Abi Cushman
The rain ruins everything for this very soggy, glum bear until a bunny, a badger, and a hula-hooping moose show him the bright side of a rainy day. Kids will giggle at the antics of Bear and his friends and be inspired to go outside and jump in puddles themselves. It is a great book for discussing rain and weather, feeling grumpy, and changing your perspective when things seem gloomy.
Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea
When Reuben discovers his pants are wet, he seeks justice, questioning his friends to find out who did it. This is a very silly, very funny book that is great for preschoolers who may discover their own pants get wet from time to time. And the amount of patience and grace Reuben’s friends exhibit throughout the book to save their friend from feeling embarrassed is something we should all strive for.
Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison and Brianne Farley
Just when LouAnn thinks she’s all set for winter with her batch of freshly-made doughnuts, the door bell rings and another friend comes over and eats them. This picture book is a real crowd-pleaser due to its fantastic rhymes, fun refrain and extremely kid-friendly topic: doughnuts. (Kids will love picking out their favorite doughnut on the endpapers, too.) Not only is it a super fun read aloud, Dozens of Doughnuts also sneaks in a bit of math as LouAnn divides the doughnuts up into different portions throughout the story. Preschoolers will also get a great example of how to properly apologize to a friend.
Louis by Tom Lichtenheld and Julie Rowan-Zoch
Louis is a teddy bear who is tired of being used as a hankie or being run through the washing machine and decides to plot his escape. Told in first person from the bear’s perspective, it’s a hilarious take on all the indignities a stuffed animal goes through. It’s a great conversation starter on point of view and looking at things in a different light. And preschoolers will love making the connection between Louis and their own favorite stuffie.
Ida, Always by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso
Have the tissues handy because this picture book is a real tear-jerker. It tells the story of two polar bears, Gus and Ida, living in a park in a big city. They do everything together until Ida falls ill. This book offers a really accessible way to talk about illness, death, and grief with preschool children.
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
Bruce is a bear who doesn’t like many things. The one thing he does like is cooking fancy meals. But when the free range goose eggs he picks up hatch into goslings, he ends up being their new mother, whether he likes it or not. This is a really funny book that highlights that families are made up in many different ways. And the sequels in the Mother Bruce series are equally as good as the first.
Polar Bear’s Underwear by Tupera Tupera
Polar Bear has a problem. He can’t find his new underwear. So he and his friend Mouse go looking for it. This is a really silly book with die-cut holes offering a peek at the next page. Kids have to guess if the underwear shown belongs to Polar Bear or someone else. Not only is it fun and interactive, it will also have preschoolers excited about all the different, wacky underwear–which is helpful for kids going through potty-training.
Find Fergus by Mike Boldt
In this super silly, interactive book, readers are challenged to find Fergus, who is hiding on each page. Except Fergus isn’t very good at hiding, and at first, it’s REALLY easy to spot him. But with the help of the narrator, Fergus gets better and better at blending in. Kids will enjoy the escalating challenge of finding Fergus (and other animals) throughout the book.
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Sometimes when I reread books from my childhood, I find they don’t quite hold up in modern times. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Corduroy was still as wonderful as I remembered. Corduroy is a teddy bear at a department store waiting for his person. A girl wants to buy him, but her mother dissuades her, pointing out that he’s missing a button. So Corduroy leaves his shelf and goes on a quest to find the missing button. This is a story that will resonate with preschoolers not just because it’s about a teddy bear, but because it’s about finding a friend and finding a home. It’s a great conversation starter about what makes a home a home.
If you enjoyed this list of the best bear books for preschoolers, be sure to check out my other Best Book Lists.
Disclosure: I participate in the Amazon Associates program, which means I earn a small commission (at no cost to you) for any qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
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