The boy and the bear

Friends come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the best friends are the most unlikely of all. When a lonely little boy receives an invitation to play written on a paper boat, it seems that he has found the best friend he's been longing for - at last! But Bear isn't quite the playmate the boy had imagined. If only he knew how to play games properly! Then, when Bear starts to build a treehouse, 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, and only then does he truly realise what he has lost . . . Until at last spring comes again and the friends are joyfully reunited with a very special hug! This tender story with heart-warming illustrations exquisitely captures the change of seasons and explores themes of friendship and belonging. Fully illustrated throughout by Sarah Massini, the illustrator of The Velveteen Rabbit , The Boy and the Bear and Star in the Jar . Tracey Corderoy is a multi-award-winning author and has written over 70 books for children, including the hugely successful Shifty McGifty series. Every Nosy Crow paperback picture book comes with a free "Stories Aloud" audio recording. Just scan the QR code and listen along!