There's a Bear in Your Book

Who's in Your Book?

by Tom Fletcher

A brand new 'Who's in Your Book?' story from bestselling children's book author Tom Fletcher.

OH, LOOK! A bear has wandered into your book!
And - what's that noise? He's yawning! He looks like he's ready for bed.
Can you help him drift off to sleep?

This warm, gentle adventure combines interactive fun with a night-time routine to help little ones wind down before they go to bed.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Animals, Roman, Monsters

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Tom Fletcher is one of the UK's most popular children's authors. Tom's books have been translated into 41 languages and to date he has sold over 6 million copies of his books in the UK alone, and 10 million globally.

The Christmasaurus was the biggest debut children's novel of 2016 and was shortlisted for a British Book Award. Since then, Tom has published several more chart-topping children's novels, including The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List, The Creakers and the instant number-one bestseller The Danger Gang.

For younger readers, Tom writes the incredibly successful Who's in Your Book? picture-book series and is one half of the author duo behind the Dinosaur that Pooped picture-book series with bandmate Dougie Poynter.

For older readers, Tom co-authors the Eve of Man series with his wife, Giovanna Fletcher.

As well as his career as an author, Tom is also a founding member of the Brit Award-winning band McFly, which has sold over 10 million records worldwide.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adorable little bear needs help getting to sleep, and the reader gets to participate in the process by interacting with the book and moving it all around. As my wife pointed out, all this activity may not be conducive to sleep if you want to use this book to put your own little bear to bed, so it may be better for a daytime reading session -- but hey, if I did read it at bedtime and the little critter were still awake, well, I'll take any excuse to read just one more book.

[Lexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

How'd he get in there?

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this whole series about different creatures being in the book. It's such an interactive and engaging book. The illustrations are adorable and it's a great book. I love it. The ending was also unexpected, but enjoyable. Kids love these books when I read them for storytime.

[Carol Farrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books and this one is no exception! It’s a perfect nap time or bedtime story. It continues with the fun of doing things before you turn the page, such as shaking the book to form bubbles for the bubble bath or popping them once they form or gently rocking the book side to side to lull bear to sleep. Doing these actions can help engage kids that otherwise may not engage with books. I will be reading this to my grandkids and using it in my job as a kids speech therapist.

[Georgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband bought this because of the cute title and cover. We fell is love with the cute story and the interactive pages. This even kept our 4 month old engaged because of the high contrast illustration and the interactive, engaging pages. Will be even more fun when she can understand the story and follow along with us. Will have a permanent place on her bedtime story shelf. ☺️

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

British author Tom Fletcher returns, sans illustrator Greg Abbott, in this eighth entry in the Who's in Your Book? interactive picture book series (ninth, if you count the 2021 World Book Day miniature title, There's a Wolf in Your Book ). The narrator here introduces the eponymous bear, who needs a little help with his bedtime rituals, and in getting to sleep. As in the previous books in the series, the reader is given instructions on things to do to aid in this process (rocking the book, popping bubbles on the page), and when the little monster from earlier titles shows up, both creatures must be soothed to sleep...

I have read and enjoyed all of the previous seven entries in this series, and think that formula it uses—a simple text offering suggestions for actions that readers and listeners can take to participate in the story, paired with bright, colorful artwork—is a successful one, creating engrossing and entertaining books for younger children. When I discovered this new (or new to me) title, I immediately requested it from the library, and anticipated another engaging read. Unfortunately, while I think that this one definitely lives up to its predecessors in terms of the text, and the clever way it involves the reader in the storytelling process, I was very disappointed in the artwork. Don't mistake me—it's still very cute. But Greg Abbott, who illustrated all of the prior books in the series, doesn't appear anywhere on the cover of the book, and when I look on the colophon, I found this: "Illustrated by Dynamo. Based on illustrations by Greg Abbott." I find it really disappointing that the named artist, who together with Tom Fletcher was responsible for making this series such a success, has been replaced by a corporate art company that is copying his art style. I don't know if this is a cost-saving measure on the publisher's part (most likely), and I don't know if the art company is using AI (possibly), but it just feels cheap. These books may not be great art or literature, but they were lots of fun, and were the product of a creative author and artist. Other readers may feel differently, and I suspect that children who enjoy the series will also appreciate this one, but I don't know that I'll be seeking out newer titles (I see a few have already been released, or soon will be).

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Youngsters who've enjoyed this author's previous "Who's in Your Book" titles will find much to appreciate in this interactive one, written and designed in similar fashion to the other ones. In this title, readers see signs on the title page that someone has been up to mischief since various foods are strewn along a tablecloth. The next page shows a messy little bear who clearly is responsible for the disorder. Of course, he needs to be cleaned up, and readers are encouraged to give him a bath. They will need to shake the book, pop bubbles, flap the pages to dry him off, rock him gently, and put him to sleep. He even needs to be protected from a little monster. Perfect for its intended audience, the book even concludes with an admonition to close it gently to prevent waking the slumbering little monster and bear. The artwork uses lots of color and abundant white space to set off the minimal text and characters. Breaking the boundary between reader and text is a simple but effective technique.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I didn't want to like this and considered giving it two stars. Is Bear really cute, or is Bear smarmy and kind of big-eyed creepy? Does the book encourage children's imagination, or is it setting them up to fail when they turn the page and the picture is different from what they imagined? Finally, it is clearly intended as a bedtime story, going so far as to end with the words, "Sleep tight!", but this book most certainly will NOT help kids get settled down to sleep. With all that shaking and waving and popping they'll be bouncing off the walls. If you want a book that actually is calming and soothing and settling I would suggest another one we read in this same picture book reading session: Arlo: The Lion Who Couldn't Sleep, but I have to admit most kids will probably love this, so it gets three stars from me.

[Lyra Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is from the interactive adventure series of WHO’s in your book.
This book is full of interactive fun for your little ones and will be enjoyed by many children. The book helps to keep their attention and is a great book for families to read and share together.

In this book we have a bear, who has made a bit of a mess having a picnic in your book and needs a bath before bedtime. The story is easy to follow along, It is a gentle adventure of a bear who also has a cheeky monster popping in to disrupt his bedtime. The illustrations are clear and lovely. It’s a fun night time read before little ones go to bed. This is a lovely bedtime story that can be told again and again.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest interactive book in Tom Fletcher's "There's an Animal in Your Book" series. This time it is a bear, and the reader is invited to do different things with the book to help him get ready for bed. Readers may recognize Fletcher's Monster who shows up along the way, so then the reader must help both settled down. This is a great bedtime read aloud. I love how Fletcher gets the reader physical involved with interacting with the pages.

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a bear in your book! He has made a mess and you have to get him cleaned up and put to bed. Can you help the bear get all tucked in?

This is an adorable bedtime storybook geared toward younger readers. They will love the interactive directions and feel like they are helping move the story along. The illustrations are simple but charming. Overall, super cute, but not much of a curriculum connection.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:

This book was a lot of fun to read! It’s interactive and great for reading with a child who isn’t likely to sit still. It would also be pretty good to read at bedtime as that’s the goal for the bear who is in this story (going to sleep).

Summary:

How did this bear get in your book? Oh, it’s sleepy. Let’s help the bear get ready for bed and go to sleep!

[Mama C · Rating 5 out of 5]

My preschooler loves the whole Who's in Your Book series! The interactive stories are always fun and engaging! There's a Bear in Your Book is no exception, just a little calmer and sleepier and perfect for bedtime!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the whole bit: "do-fill in the blank-action to make something magically happen in a book" is somewhat overdone, when it's done well, it's worth sharing. I can't wait to share this book in my storytimes!

Themes: bears, bedtime
Ages: toddler-K
Pub year: 2023

[Nightshade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feb 2024 - This one isn't quite as good as There's a Dragon in Your Book, but it is still a lot of fun and very re-readable. Very good for getting kids involved in all the actions and very easy for them to learn the key phrases.

[Bekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute, fun read for kids!

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Beautifully written perfect for a little one who is learning to read. The whole series is brilliant.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A interactive bedtime book, which is tough to do, but this seems to work for my kids.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interactive story.
I appreciate the way Fletcher engages readers to help the bear get ready for bed. The illustrations are fun and support the actions and story.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars?

[Jaimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the interactivity more in the others in the series, but I (a full-grown adult) did get sleepy, so mission accomplished!

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this whole series!!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for a story time with younger kiddos. Cute illustrations and a great book to get kids to participate in group movement during story time.

[Alex Sarll]

Sufficiently relatable that the fourth wall breaks aren't enough to stop me wondering if they've got my place circa bedtime under surveillance.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect bed time book

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 year old daughter loved it.

[Jenae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and engaging for littles!

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids at the nursery I work at adore this book, interactive books always get them interested. I'm rating on their behalf, because I know they would all give it 5 stars.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun bedtime story to walk a child through going to sleep