Book Review: Pocket Bear

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this children's book through NetGalley.

What a precious, sweet book! I knew just by looking at the cover that I was going to absolutely love it. I've read books by the author before, so I had a feeling this would not disappoint. I am so glad I got an advanced copy!

look at this gorgeous cover, courtesy of goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220908889-pocket-bear

This book will be published in September of this year, and I am telling you to get is as soon as it is available! Enough ranting though, let me tell you a little bit about it (without spoilers, of course!)

Pocket Bear, that adorable little bear on the cover, was "born" during WWI. Handsewn with love and care, he was designed to fit into a soldier's pocket, with his eyes specially sewn to gaze upward. That way, as the soldier looked down into his pocket, he would see those sweet little eyes gazing back up, to remind him of his family back home. (Cue the "aaawwwwwwwws" and teary eyes here) Does this not already sound so precious? It is, I promise you.

Years pass, and we find Pocket Bear at the beginning of story already in a new home. After the war, he was forgotten for a long time, until a sweet little girl named Dasha and her mother found him. Now, Dasha "rescues" other lost or forgotten toys. She repairs them, and if she can't partner them back up with their original owners, she finds them new homes. What she doesn't know is that Pocket Bear is helping her. He names their house the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, and secretly guides every toy as they get ready for adoption.

Pocket Bear has a little helper of his own though. That pretty cat you see on the cover, is known as Zephyrina, Captain Z, the "Kleptocat" (get it? as in she's a kleptomaniac) and finally, "The Cat Burglar." Zephyrina answers to all of these nicknames, but takes personal offense to "Kleptocat". You see, she goes around the neighborhood, rescuing toys that have been thrown away, injured, or dumped, and brings them to Pocket Bear and Dasha. She's accused of being a thief and a kleptomaniac, when really, she's a hero on a mission. Talk about cuteness overload.

Dasha and her mother come from a country that has recently been in a war, and Dasha still has an injured leg. Pocket Bear and Dasha both feel connected to each other, because they both know what a war is like. Although, Dasha has no idea that Pocket Bear can talk, or any of the other toys for that matter! She just knows there is something special about him.

But one day, Zephyrina brings home another teddy bear. One much larger than Pocket Bear. It is one that Pocket Bear believes he recognizes. And this teddy bear could change everything.

The story is told from Zephyrina's point of view, which as you could guess, I absolutely loved. The author really captured what we know about cats and their behavior, and showed a cat that is cunning and sly, but not mean or selfish. Zephyrina does what she wants and is independent, yes, but by the end of the book, she has come around to being part of a family and not having to put on such a tough guy act.

I thought this was going to be a picture book at first, but it is a full length chapter book. It does have illustrations though, just like the cover, and I loved them. It gave the whole story a very nostalgic feel. I highly recommend it! If there are any parents reading this review or teachers, I implore you to add this to your collection and read it with the kids. I found myself actually tearing up at the end of the story, it is just so sweet.

Did anyone else watch Toy Story as a kid, and it had a lasting impression on you that your toys were indeed alive? It can't just be me! Reading this story brought back all those feelings and I remembered what it was like to have that in my imagination. For years, I constantly made sure that my stuffed animals had "friends" around so they wouldn't get lonely while I wasn't playing with them or watching them! I pretended they did things like Pocket Bear in the story. It was nice to remember what it was like to be a kid again.

I can't recommend this one enough. It is so well written! Get a copy as soon as it is published or find it at your local library. And, as always, happy reading!