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The Good Bear

By Sarah Lean
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Check link for latest rating. ( 465 ratings, 105 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Good Bear by Sarah Lean is a heartwarming story about a young girl named Thea who travels to Norway for Christmas to visit her estranged father. Feeling out of place in this snowy setting, she discovers a mysterious bear in the woods that helps her find courage, friendship, and the power of connection. Through her adventure, Thea faces her fears and learns the true meaning of family and belonging.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This heartwarming story may appeal to you if you love tales about friendship and adventure set in a wintry landscape. It beautifully explores themes of trust, understanding, and the magic of unexpected bonds between humans and animals. Children fascinated by nature and those who cherish stories with emotional depth will likely enjoy this captivating read.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Meet Thea and her Bear in this unforgettable middle-grade adventure from bestselling author Sarah Lean.  

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Good Bear is a wintry animal story for readers aged 9+ that will warm your heart and take you on an adventure you will never forget. From the bestselling author of A Dog Called Homeless, this is the perfect story for fans of Michael Morpurgo, Lauren St John, and Sara Pennypacker's Pax.

It’s the Christmas holidays and Thea is looking forward to spending them with her father. She can tell him all about her plans to become a writer, and maybe he’ll buy her the typewriter she’s been dreaming of.

But when Thea arrives in Norway, everything feels... wrong. Her father is as distant as ever, and now she has to share him with his new family: his girlfriend Inge and her children. Then Thea makes a surprising discovery. Deep in the snowy woods by the house, there is a bear. He’s scared and hungry and he desperately needs Thea’s help.

When the town hears about a bear living in the woods, Bear’s life is in even greater danger. Thea needs to show everyone that he’s not dangerous – he’s a good bear – if she’s to save him.

Beautifully illustrated by award-winning illustrator Fiona Woodcock, the artist behind Abi Elphinstone's The Snow Dragon.

'Author Sarah Lean and illustrator Fiona Woodcock build a beautiful, wintery world for this story about family and friendship' – The Scotsman

'Sarah Lean’s beautifully written story about a lonely girl and a brown bear is a modern fairytale' – Booktrust

'Beautifully written with lovely illustrations, this heart-warming animal story is a real delight - perfect for cosy winter reading' – The Week Junior

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Good Bear by Sarah Lean is praised for its heartfelt narrative and beautifully written prose. Reviewers often highlight the warmth and emotional depth of the story, appreciating its capacity to engage young readers. The thematic focus on friendship, adventure, and the bond between a child and a bear comes across as both enchanting and meaningful.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781471194672

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 15 October 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Fiona Woodcock

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 320

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Sarah Lean Young Adult

About the Author

Sarah Lean grew up in Somerset with a fascination for animals after a stray cat walked in the back door of the family home. She now lives in beautiful Dorset and has a husband, a son and two naughty terriers. She has worked as a page-planner for a newspaper, a gardener and a primary school teacher, amongst many other things. After studying at university in her 40s, she gained a First Class English Degree and a Masters in Creative & Critical Writing. Sarah is the author of several children's novels, including the bestseller A Dog Called Homeless, winner of the Schneider Family Book Award in the US, the Hazelgrove Book Award, as well as being shortlisted for Sheffield Children's Book Award and longlisted for Brandford Boase Award. Her motto is welcome anything unexpected that comes your way. From an early age Fiona knew that she wanted to earn her living drawing. Since graduating from Glasgow School of Art she has been working freelance in London on animated films, commercials, animation artwork for West End shows and illustration work.  She explores a variety of subject matter through self-initiated and commercial work, deriving inspiration from new places, brilliant people, bold patterns, structures and subtle details in everyday life.  All the projects she works on have a paper based handmade origin. She likes to work with a combination of pencil, paint, charcoal, children's blow pens, cutting stencils and experimenting with print techniques whilst dreaming up new characters and stories.

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