Pocket Bear is in charge of all the toys in Dash’s house. He might be the smallest – he doesn’t even weigh enough to make a sound as he stands on the piano keys every night, but he is the wisest, oldest and most patient of all. Pocket Bear makes a wonderful leader.

He and the other toys live in a house with Dasha and her mum Elizaveta. They have moved to the US from the Ukraine, missing Dasha’s Dad and trying to make a new life for themselves.

They have opened a place for toys to be rehomed, or found by those missing their fuzzy loved ones. The key to this is Zephyrina, their kleptomaniac cat. Zephyrina is an expert cat burglar, bringing home toys of all shapes and sizes. But she does admit, toy cars are difficult to carry and leave her with sore teeth.

One night she brings home a bear covered in tomato sauce and parsley, scrounged from a restaurant rubbish bin. This bear is quickly named Berwon by Dasha, and is cleaned up for his probation period outside the house where only his owner can claim him.

Berwon is an old bear. He’s in very good condition, and he and Pocket Bear being both from ‘The War to End all Wars,’ talk deep into the night, while all the other toys are playing.

Little do any of them know, just how special Berwon is.

Toy Story was right all along. Toys are alive!

By the author of The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate is a master storyteller of wonderful tales, and Pocket Bear joins some of her best.

Told in the viewpoint of a kleptomaniac cat called Zephyrina, this story for early middle grade readers has short chapters, and beautiful pencil illustrations by Charles Santoso. Some of these are double spreads, but smaller pics are also sprinkled through the story.

Zephyrina herself is a sassy, sarcastic, character. Like she says, she is a CAT after all. She doesn’t do hugs or sleep on her girl’s bed or even let herself be patted. But she IS very much attached to Pocket Bear.

Pocket Bear and Berwon are two toys bears who have a real life link to WWI, and there is more information in the rear of the book for readers.

Funny, lovely, and with just the right amount of tension about ownership of Berwon, Pocket Bear is a special read.

Author – Katherine Applegate

Illustrator – Charles Santoso

Age – 7+

Find more Katherine Applegate stories here

Find more stories about Cats here

(2026, Scholastic, Family, Fantasy, Friendship, Humour, Funny, Secret, Cat Burglar, Toys, Toy Bear, WWI, Brave, Love, New York, USA)