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Pocket Bear
Thimble-born from tip to toe, Pocket Bear remembers every moment of his "becoming": the glimmering needle, the silken thread, the tender hands as each careful stitch brought him closer to himself. Born during the throes of WWI, he was designed to fit into the pocket of a soldier’s jacket, eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that he always gazed upward. That way, glancing at his pocket, a soldier would see an endearing token of love from someone back home, and, hopefully, a good luck charm.
Now, over a century later, Pocket serves as unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where stuffed toy animals are refurbished and given a fresh opportunity to be loved. He and his best feline friend Zephyrina, known far and wide as “The Cat Burglar,” have seen it all, and then some.
An unforgettable tale of bravery, loyalty, and kindness, Pocket Bearreminds us all that love comes in many forms (sometimes filled with fluff), and that second chances are always possible.
Now, over a century later, Pocket serves as unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where stuffed toy animals are refurbished and given a fresh opportunity to be loved. He and his best feline friend Zephyrina, known far and wide as “The Cat Burglar,” have seen it all, and then some.
An unforgettable tale of bravery, loyalty, and kindness, Pocket Bearreminds us all that love comes in many forms (sometimes filled with fluff), and that second chances are always possible.
263 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2025
About the author
Katherine Applegate
283 books6,464 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate has written many books for young readers, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 762 reviews
June 1, 2026
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade fantasy featuring many toys full of heart and one cat full of ‘cattitude’. Lovely story and mostly loveable characters. Great balance of fun and seriousness. Highlights the pain associated with war then and now. Much recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
See the adorable bear nestled within the embrace of a smiling cat on the cover? That was my one and only reason to grab this book. I had no idea about the storyline and hence no specific expectations from the book. As such, several things surprised me in the content, mostly in a good way.
Bookish Yays:
🧸 Pocket Bear, who I thought would just be a cute and cuddly little bear but turned out to be a wise and understanding century-old war veteran. What a fascinating character! Because of his age, his behaviour is marked by old-time good manners. There are some other memorable toy characters as well, reminiscent of Toy Story. Love how Pocket Bear calls the other toys his ‘troops’!
🧸 The truth behind pocket bears, who were stuffed bears actually made during WWI for soldiers. All these WW books I’ve read and not one of them mentioned this fact!
🧸 Zephyrina the cat. (Whoops! I mean, “Zephyrina the tiger trapped in a kitty costume! The Robinhood of felines!” 😂) Love her to bits! She is the most cattilicious kitty I have ever read in fiction. Despite her clear cattitude, she defers to Pocket Bear and his wisdom, which I really enjoyed reading.
🧸 The first-person narrative coming from Zephyrina instead of Pocket Bear. A great choice to have the cat as the narrator as she is in a better position to tell us everything that transpires inside and outside the house, unlike Pocket Bear who is obviously restricted in his mobility given that he’s a toy. Zephyrina’s POV offers us her *expert* observations on the toys as well as other characters such as the dogs and the humans.
🧸 Zephyrina’s vocabulary. Our kitty narrator is far too prodigious in her word usage, which somehow suits her persona perfectly. I can actually imagine a cat using such bombastic language just to ensure that those around them are enthralled.
🧸 The concept of the Second Chances home. Awesome in every way!
🧸 The humans running the Second Chances Home: Elizaveta and her daughter Dasha who needs crutches. Their being war refugees from Ukraine and still pursuing hope in their new life in the USA adds a touch of poignancy to their arc.
🧸 The historical facts interspersed within the narrative, be it about various stuffed bears or WWI or a little about the Ukraine war. The content never goes deep into the whys of the wars, keeping the tone suitable for children. At one point, I would have considered stories of war too brutal for kids, but with the world being what it is today, perhaps such stories can teach kids to not repeat the mistakes we adults make by spreading hatred so shamelessly.
🧸 The humour, partly thanks to Zephyrina’s snarky personality and partly due to the other non-human characters (especially Goofus the dog.) Helps balance the overall tone.
🧸 The B&W illustrations. Not as many as I would have liked but still a delight to behold.
Bookish Okays:
🐈 This might not bother kids, but the chapters were extremely short for my liking. A couple of them barely had 3-4 sentences.
🐈 While the cover is stunning, it somehow leads to the impression that the bear is at the centre of the narrative. The title also creates the same assumption. While I was okay with having a feline narrator instead of an ursine toy, kids who pick the book specifically for the bear might be a little disappointed.
Bookish Nays:
😼 Zephyrina is also called Kleptocat because of her habit of stealing toys. But she justifies her tendency strongly, saying stealing for the purpose of redistribution instead of hoarding is justified. Eh, no… Not a good idea to include in a children’s book.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 4 hrs 18 min, is narrated by the outstanding January LaVoy. She uses the most amazing voices for every single character, though perhaps her voicing of Zephyrina deserves the greatest applause. I mean, she even meows like a cat!!! 😻 I’d strongly recommend the audio version just to hear her nail the performance.
The only issue I had with the audio version was the short chapters. While chapter lengths don’t affect me in general, listening to the chapter number after every minute or so becomes somewhat distracting. And of course, you will miss out on the illustrations.
Overall, this book turned out to be a pleasant surprise in many ways. The cover led me to expect a cute story about a little bear, but it turned out to have so much more, in terms of plot, characters, fun, as well as life lessons.
This is not my first book by this reputed children’s author, and it won't be the last.
Definitely recommended, despite the whole stealing arc. This is officially meant for middle graders, but given the characters and the tone, it reads a bit younger, so it can work for ages 6-10.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for providing the DRC of “Pocket Bear” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Pocket Bear “became” from a thimble during WWI, when he was created to fit into the pocket of a soldier’s jacket to offer comfort and love. Now, more than a century later, Pocket Bear is the unofficial head of the ‘Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured’, a place where its two humans – a mother-daughter pair who are refugees from Ukraine – refurbish discarded or unwanted soft toys and give them a fresh lease of life with a new owner. Accompanied by his best friend, a cat named Zephyrina who is the prime source of the toys, Pocket Bear ensures that everything in the Second Chances Home runs smoothly. However, one day, Zephyrina walks in with a toy bear covered in sauce. This triggers several unexpected events.
The story comes to us in the first-person perspective of… surprise, surprise… Zephyrina!
See the adorable bear nestled within the embrace of a smiling cat on the cover? That was my one and only reason to grab this book. I had no idea about the storyline and hence no specific expectations from the book. As such, several things surprised me in the content, mostly in a good way.
Bookish Yays:
🧸 Pocket Bear, who I thought would just be a cute and cuddly little bear but turned out to be a wise and understanding century-old war veteran. What a fascinating character! Because of his age, his behaviour is marked by old-time good manners. There are some other memorable toy characters as well, reminiscent of Toy Story. Love how Pocket Bear calls the other toys his ‘troops’!
🧸 The truth behind pocket bears, who were stuffed bears actually made during WWI for soldiers. All these WW books I’ve read and not one of them mentioned this fact!
🧸 Zephyrina the cat. (Whoops! I mean, “Zephyrina the tiger trapped in a kitty costume! The Robinhood of felines!” 😂) Love her to bits! She is the most cattilicious kitty I have ever read in fiction. Despite her clear cattitude, she defers to Pocket Bear and his wisdom, which I really enjoyed reading.
🧸 The first-person narrative coming from Zephyrina instead of Pocket Bear. A great choice to have the cat as the narrator as she is in a better position to tell us everything that transpires inside and outside the house, unlike Pocket Bear who is obviously restricted in his mobility given that he’s a toy. Zephyrina’s POV offers us her *expert* observations on the toys as well as other characters such as the dogs and the humans.
🧸 Zephyrina’s vocabulary. Our kitty narrator is far too prodigious in her word usage, which somehow suits her persona perfectly. I can actually imagine a cat using such bombastic language just to ensure that those around them are enthralled.
🧸 The concept of the Second Chances home. Awesome in every way!
🧸 The humans running the Second Chances Home: Elizaveta and her daughter Dasha who needs crutches. Their being war refugees from Ukraine and still pursuing hope in their new life in the USA adds a touch of poignancy to their arc.
🧸 The historical facts interspersed within the narrative, be it about various stuffed bears or WWI or a little about the Ukraine war. The content never goes deep into the whys of the wars, keeping the tone suitable for children. At one point, I would have considered stories of war too brutal for kids, but with the world being what it is today, perhaps such stories can teach kids to not repeat the mistakes we adults make by spreading hatred so shamelessly.
🧸 The humour, partly thanks to Zephyrina’s snarky personality and partly due to the other non-human characters (especially Goofus the dog.) Helps balance the overall tone.
🧸 The B&W illustrations. Not as many as I would have liked but still a delight to behold.
Bookish Okays:
🐈 This might not bother kids, but the chapters were extremely short for my liking. A couple of them barely had 3-4 sentences.
🐈 While the cover is stunning, it somehow leads to the impression that the bear is at the centre of the narrative. The title also creates the same assumption. While I was okay with having a feline narrator instead of an ursine toy, kids who pick the book specifically for the bear might be a little disappointed.
Bookish Nays:
😼 Zephyrina is also called Kleptocat because of her habit of stealing toys. But she justifies her tendency strongly, saying stealing for the purpose of redistribution instead of hoarding is justified. Eh, no… Not a good idea to include in a children’s book.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 4 hrs 18 min, is narrated by the outstanding January LaVoy. She uses the most amazing voices for every single character, though perhaps her voicing of Zephyrina deserves the greatest applause. I mean, she even meows like a cat!!! 😻 I’d strongly recommend the audio version just to hear her nail the performance.
The only issue I had with the audio version was the short chapters. While chapter lengths don’t affect me in general, listening to the chapter number after every minute or so becomes somewhat distracting. And of course, you will miss out on the illustrations.
Overall, this book turned out to be a pleasant surprise in many ways. The cover led me to expect a cute story about a little bear, but it turned out to have so much more, in terms of plot, characters, fun, as well as life lessons.
This is not my first book by this reputed children’s author, and it won't be the last.
Definitely recommended, despite the whole stealing arc. This is officially meant for middle graders, but given the characters and the tone, it reads a bit younger, so it can work for ages 6-10.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for providing the DRC of “Pocket Bear” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
September 17, 2025
I absolutely loved it!!
This is a truly adorable story about the making of Pocket Bear, a WW1 mascot issued to all of the soldiers during the war. It fits into the pocket of the soldiers, a reminder that someone is looking out for them.
It's also the story about the first teddy 🧸 bear ever made, Berwon. The debate goes on for who made it, Germany or America. Makes no nevermind to me, just glad that teddy bears were made! 🧸
Cleptocat, the talking cat from Second Chance for toys, is the narrator of the story. Gotta love a book about stuffed animals and cats 😺!!! 😂
I really highly recommend this one!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫🧸
This is a truly adorable story about the making of Pocket Bear, a WW1 mascot issued to all of the soldiers during the war. It fits into the pocket of the soldiers, a reminder that someone is looking out for them.
It's also the story about the first teddy 🧸 bear ever made, Berwon. The debate goes on for who made it, Germany or America. Makes no nevermind to me, just glad that teddy bears were made! 🧸
Cleptocat, the talking cat from Second Chance for toys, is the narrator of the story. Gotta love a book about stuffed animals and cats 😺!!! 😂
I really highly recommend this one!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫🧸
October 14, 2025
Katherine Applegate does it again. I didn’t think I’d cry over a war-era stuffed bear… and yet here we are.
Pocket Bear is like historical fiction met Toy Story, hugged, and said “let’s make ‘em feel everything.” Told from the perspective of Zephyrina (a trash-diving, chaos-loving cat), this one delivers humor, heart, and the kind of quiet magic Applegate is famous for.
The chapters are short, the pacing flies, and the messages of love, loyalty, and second chances will hit kids and adults right in the feels. I’ll be recommending this one to anyone with a heart, a classroom, or a soft spot for forgotten toys.
Pocket Bear is like historical fiction met Toy Story, hugged, and said “let’s make ‘em feel everything.” Told from the perspective of Zephyrina (a trash-diving, chaos-loving cat), this one delivers humor, heart, and the kind of quiet magic Applegate is famous for.
The chapters are short, the pacing flies, and the messages of love, loyalty, and second chances will hit kids and adults right in the feels. I’ll be recommending this one to anyone with a heart, a classroom, or a soft spot for forgotten toys.
September 29, 2025
Children’s book author Katherine Applegate has written another wonderful story - I just loved it!
Zephyrina, a former stray cat, has a knack for finding “treasures” ranging from dead mice and rats, socks, mittens, discarded food, to most of all, discarded toys. She likes to bring these items home to Elizaveta and Dasha, a mother and daughter who rescued her and now feed and care for her. Young Dasha has established the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured. She enjoys refurbishing discarded toys and finding new homes for them. When Zephyrina brings home an old stuffed bear, it becomes a companion to Dasha’s tiny “pocket bear”. This act of kindness changes all their lives.
This is a wonderful story of kindness and bravery but most of all it’s a tale of second chances and a reminder that “love comes in many forms - even when it’s filled with fluff”. The beautiful black and white illustrations of Charles Santoso bring this lovely story to life. It’s a heartwarming story that will appeal to all ages.
The Author’s Note at the end is not to be missed - it is so interesting!
Zephyrina, a former stray cat, has a knack for finding “treasures” ranging from dead mice and rats, socks, mittens, discarded food, to most of all, discarded toys. She likes to bring these items home to Elizaveta and Dasha, a mother and daughter who rescued her and now feed and care for her. Young Dasha has established the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured. She enjoys refurbishing discarded toys and finding new homes for them. When Zephyrina brings home an old stuffed bear, it becomes a companion to Dasha’s tiny “pocket bear”. This act of kindness changes all their lives.
This is a wonderful story of kindness and bravery but most of all it’s a tale of second chances and a reminder that “love comes in many forms - even when it’s filled with fluff”. The beautiful black and white illustrations of Charles Santoso bring this lovely story to life. It’s a heartwarming story that will appeal to all ages.
The Author’s Note at the end is not to be missed - it is so interesting!
September 26, 2025
This toy story starts when Zephyrina, a stern cat who likes to take discarded things finds a teddy bear in a garbage bin covered in spaghetti. She decides to bring it to the place where she and other secondhand toys call home: The Second Chances Home for the Stuffed and Treasured that is run by a widowed mother and her daughter. We also meet Pocket, a small century-old army bear who is leader of the toys and takes his role seriously while helping the newcomer with a new name and learn of where it possibly came from. Unbeknownst to them all, they’ll find themselves in the eyes of a persistent buyer as one of the toys turn out to be valuable.
It’s a charming and wholesome story about friendship, new beginning and family centering on toys. The story and elements definitely have that same feel to “Toy Story” and “Edward Tulane” as we see Berwon learn about where he was created and Pocket and the others saving him from a greedy woman. It definitely gets more cozy and warm as the story goes on. Another winning story from Applegate.
One thing for sure, no toy gets left behind. A- (91%/Excellent)
It’s a charming and wholesome story about friendship, new beginning and family centering on toys. The story and elements definitely have that same feel to “Toy Story” and “Edward Tulane” as we see Berwon learn about where he was created and Pocket and the others saving him from a greedy woman. It definitely gets more cozy and warm as the story goes on. Another winning story from Applegate.
One thing for sure, no toy gets left behind. A- (91%/Excellent)
August 31, 2025
Katherine Applegate's Pocket Bear is an absolute delight of a book. It's heart-warming, but treacle-free, which isn't an easy balance to pull off. It's kind, but also acknowledges that life isn't always that way. The mother and daughter at the book's center are refugees from Ukraine. Pocket Bear spent time in the U.S. Army during WWI and saw more combat than he would have liked. Zephyrina, a cat, scouts the neighborhood for lost or discarded stuffed animals. The daughter cleans them up and makes necessary repairs, then puts them up for "adoption." Meanwhile, as the two humans sleep, Pocket Bear keeps the stuffed animals in line, making sure their frolicking doesn't give away the secret that the toys are really alive.
The promo material suggests this title is for ages 8 to 12. I'm in my middle 60s and adored it. If you're looking for a book to share with a young friend—or just want a bit of comfort reading—Pocket Bear is the title for you.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
The promo material suggests this title is for ages 8 to 12. I'm in my middle 60s and adored it. If you're looking for a book to share with a young friend—or just want a bit of comfort reading—Pocket Bear is the title for you.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
June 9, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Elizaveta and Dasha, a mother and daughter who have escaped war torn Ukraine, are brought a small bear by their cat. The bear has a surprising back story, and might well be valuable. An antiques picker, as well as the curator of a toy museum, are interested in him even though he is dirty and smelly, but will Dasha want to part with him.
Santoso's illustrations really make this charming story, which will be beloved by readers of tales like DiCamillo's The Journey of Edward Tulane, Godden's The Story of Holly and Ivy, or the more recent The Winter of the Dollhouse by Amy Laura Schlitz.
Elizaveta and Dasha, a mother and daughter who have escaped war torn Ukraine, are brought a small bear by their cat. The bear has a surprising back story, and might well be valuable. An antiques picker, as well as the curator of a toy museum, are interested in him even though he is dirty and smelly, but will Dasha want to part with him.
Santoso's illustrations really make this charming story, which will be beloved by readers of tales like DiCamillo's The Journey of Edward Tulane, Godden's The Story of Holly and Ivy, or the more recent The Winter of the Dollhouse by Amy Laura Schlitz.
September 9, 2025
Not me crying in the coffee shop. 😭🤍 I loved this story of found family, well-loved toys, and a snarky cat. The way history helps us understand the present was a beautiful theme too.
I'm so happy to have read this lovely book. 🤍
I'm so happy to have read this lovely book. 🤍
September 8, 2025
"You can never lose a true friend," he said. "True friends are like stars: always there, even when you can't see them."
This was truly an AMAZING book; how can I even begin to describe it???
I'll start at the beginning: yesterday, I went to the 25th National Book Festival (an awesome event, by the way) and one of the authors that I heard speak there was Katherine Applegate, who was talking about her newest book, Pocket Bear. She was so nice, and the book sounded so cool that I immediately rushed over to the store to buy it. Then I read half of it on the car ride home, and finished the book the next day. And now I'm writing this review to convince EVERYONE to read this book! Here are my thoughts on what made this book SO good:
▪️ THE CHARACTERS: Zephyrina, the feline main character, was adorable. She was snarky and humorous and clever and a little stuck-up, but also compassionate and loving. And she was adorably clumsy, just like my own kitty. ❤️ And she went through so much character development throughout the story.
Pocket Bear, whom the book is named after, is so brave and self-sacrificing and loving. I love him ❤️
I love how he leads the other stuffed animals, and how every night he tells them "And may tomorrow bring you the second chance you deserve."
The book displays such a lovely cast of characters, such as Dasha, Berwon, Elizaveta, Mimi, John, and others. Each unique and well-developed character has something to add to the story, and you can't help but love each one.
▪️ THE PLOT: The story is simple but engaging, with a sweet but also kind of heartbreaking ending. The theme of the book, about how everyone deserves a second chance, is heartfelt and endearing. For me it was a quick but wholesome story that I was able to finish in less than a day.
▪️ THE WRITING STYLE: The style in which the book is written is beautiful but simple, and easy for younger readers to understand.
▪️ THE COVER: The cover is literally SO cute! Zephyrina curled up around the adorable Pocket 🥰🥰🥰
▪️ THE ILLUSTRATIONS: I LOVE the drawings throughout the book! They're so cute!!!
▪️ THE BEARS: The topic of mascot bears and antique teddy bears was really fascinating! I now want to learn more about the history of stuffed bears and arctophiles.
Overall it reminded me a lot of another book I absolutely LOVE, called The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. If you liked that book, you'll probably like this one.
This was literally SUCH a good book! It was definitely geared towards middle-grade readers but I would recommend it to readers of any age! 5 stars!
This was truly an AMAZING book; how can I even begin to describe it???
I'll start at the beginning: yesterday, I went to the 25th National Book Festival (an awesome event, by the way) and one of the authors that I heard speak there was Katherine Applegate, who was talking about her newest book, Pocket Bear. She was so nice, and the book sounded so cool that I immediately rushed over to the store to buy it. Then I read half of it on the car ride home, and finished the book the next day. And now I'm writing this review to convince EVERYONE to read this book! Here are my thoughts on what made this book SO good:
▪️ THE CHARACTERS: Zephyrina, the feline main character, was adorable. She was snarky and humorous and clever and a little stuck-up, but also compassionate and loving. And she was adorably clumsy, just like my own kitty. ❤️ And she went through so much character development throughout the story.
Pocket Bear, whom the book is named after, is so brave and self-sacrificing and loving. I love him ❤️
I love how he leads the other stuffed animals, and how every night he tells them "And may tomorrow bring you the second chance you deserve."
The book displays such a lovely cast of characters, such as Dasha, Berwon, Elizaveta, Mimi, John, and others. Each unique and well-developed character has something to add to the story, and you can't help but love each one.
▪️ THE PLOT: The story is simple but engaging, with a sweet but also kind of heartbreaking ending. The theme of the book, about how everyone deserves a second chance, is heartfelt and endearing. For me it was a quick but wholesome story that I was able to finish in less than a day.
▪️ THE WRITING STYLE: The style in which the book is written is beautiful but simple, and easy for younger readers to understand.
▪️ THE COVER: The cover is literally SO cute! Zephyrina curled up around the adorable Pocket 🥰🥰🥰
▪️ THE ILLUSTRATIONS: I LOVE the drawings throughout the book! They're so cute!!!
▪️ THE BEARS: The topic of mascot bears and antique teddy bears was really fascinating! I now want to learn more about the history of stuffed bears and arctophiles.
Overall it reminded me a lot of another book I absolutely LOVE, called The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. If you liked that book, you'll probably like this one.
This was literally SUCH a good book! It was definitely geared towards middle-grade readers but I would recommend it to readers of any age! 5 stars!
October 8, 2025
Katherine Applegate can write. She can write for children just learning how to navigate this complicated world in a way that doesn’t pander to them, yet doesn’t scare them even though she is honest. She includes all the big ticket writing tricks we ELAR teachers love to point out in mentor texts which means that poetic devices and reading signposts can be expected. I especially appreciated the words of the wiser treasures in this one. Timely with the infusion of the war in Ukraine. Parallels will be drawn between this charming story and “Toy Story,” though I envision pairing it with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane via read alouds. It reads like an instant classic. Just lovely, really. I got teary eyed at the ending. I read it in one sitting after deciding no news would invade the sanctity of my house this evening. Best decision ever. The world is silenced for a night, and I’m all the better for it.
February 6, 2026
Thirteen years after the release of The One and Only Ivan, which won the 2013 Newbery Medal, did Katherine Applegate still have the feel for crafting classic juvenile literature? Zephyrina was a homeless kitten when she was adopted by young Dasha and her mother Elizaveta, proprietors of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, a convalescence house for toys with no child to love them. Zeph began retrieving lost toys for Second Chances, and became privy to the secret that all toys are alive and conscious. Pocket Bear, the oldest toy at Second Chances, is in charge of the toys, and Zeph is okay with that as long as she can come and go how she pleases.
"We are, all of us, small for a while. But only a fortunate few stay small forever."
—Pocket Bear, P. 4
"Nothing wrong with a nap...As long as you know how to dream."
—Pocket, P. 64
Something changes on the day Zeph pulls a raggedy teddy bear from a trash receptacle. He's the first toy Zeph has found as old as Pocket, and may be worth good money. A financial windfall could save Dasha and Elizaveta from foreclosure on Second Chances, but their priority is finding the right home for this bear. Dasha names him Berwon, and Pocket has a hunch his past is worth learning about. Like Pocket, Berwon was originally sent as a gift to a soldier in World War I, and the two bears have plenty to reminisce about as Dasha and Elizaveta investigate Berwon's origins. Is he as valuable as they're growing to believe?
"Sometimes...the most precious things in life are right under our nose."
—Pocket, P. 158
Not all who deal in antique toys are benevolent. "Picky Vicky" lobbies to purchase Berwon as soon as she lays eyes on him, but Elizaveta insists on following intake protocol before considering a sale. Vicky may be unwilling to wait until Berwon's true value is revealed; would she stoop to dishonesty? Zeph keeps a keen eye on Berwon, loath to let Vicky win. Zeph may be the only one who can save him, but even if she does, where does Berwon belong? Surely there's a proper place for such a treasure, just as there must be a place for Zeph to settle down and let herself be loved by humans. Toys aren't the only ones who yearn for a second chance.
"You can never lose a true friend...True friends are like stars: always there, even when you can't see them."
—Pocket, P. 236
When you find your forever home after searching so long, you often don't know it right away. The people here who tolerate you seem a decent temporary solution to ease your loneliness en route to what you envision as your perfect resting place. Being accepted for who you are is rare, though; spend enough time in pleasant company and your ideal of perfection will blur into something resembling where you are now. It's a blessing to care and be cared for; when you find yourself there, it may be time to end your days of wandering.
Pocket Bear might never be as beloved as The One and Only Ivan, but I say it's just as good. The story is kind, touching on bleak realities such as war without getting too detailed, for the sake of the youngest readers. Zeph is a main character most of us can identify with; her emotional journey feels authentic. I rate this book two and a half stars, but there's enough for me to round to three. I appreciate its timeless style.
"We are, all of us, small for a while. But only a fortunate few stay small forever."
—Pocket Bear, P. 4
"Nothing wrong with a nap...As long as you know how to dream."
—Pocket, P. 64
Something changes on the day Zeph pulls a raggedy teddy bear from a trash receptacle. He's the first toy Zeph has found as old as Pocket, and may be worth good money. A financial windfall could save Dasha and Elizaveta from foreclosure on Second Chances, but their priority is finding the right home for this bear. Dasha names him Berwon, and Pocket has a hunch his past is worth learning about. Like Pocket, Berwon was originally sent as a gift to a soldier in World War I, and the two bears have plenty to reminisce about as Dasha and Elizaveta investigate Berwon's origins. Is he as valuable as they're growing to believe?
"Sometimes...the most precious things in life are right under our nose."
—Pocket, P. 158
Not all who deal in antique toys are benevolent. "Picky Vicky" lobbies to purchase Berwon as soon as she lays eyes on him, but Elizaveta insists on following intake protocol before considering a sale. Vicky may be unwilling to wait until Berwon's true value is revealed; would she stoop to dishonesty? Zeph keeps a keen eye on Berwon, loath to let Vicky win. Zeph may be the only one who can save him, but even if she does, where does Berwon belong? Surely there's a proper place for such a treasure, just as there must be a place for Zeph to settle down and let herself be loved by humans. Toys aren't the only ones who yearn for a second chance.
"You can never lose a true friend...True friends are like stars: always there, even when you can't see them."
—Pocket, P. 236
When you find your forever home after searching so long, you often don't know it right away. The people here who tolerate you seem a decent temporary solution to ease your loneliness en route to what you envision as your perfect resting place. Being accepted for who you are is rare, though; spend enough time in pleasant company and your ideal of perfection will blur into something resembling where you are now. It's a blessing to care and be cared for; when you find yourself there, it may be time to end your days of wandering.
Pocket Bear might never be as beloved as The One and Only Ivan, but I say it's just as good. The story is kind, touching on bleak realities such as war without getting too detailed, for the sake of the youngest readers. Zeph is a main character most of us can identify with; her emotional journey feels authentic. I rate this book two and a half stars, but there's enough for me to round to three. I appreciate its timeless style.
May 18, 2026
My granddaughter told me last week that this was her favorite book and asked if I’d read it. “No, but I will.” I listened to the audiobook and thought the story being narrated by a cat about stuffed bears was cute. The cat’s personality is hilarious. The story about small teddy bears being given to soldiers during WWII, personalized that these men had loved ones at home thinking about them. The story includes some shady characters too trying to capitalize on the value these antique bears have.
I’m excited to now talk to my granddaughter about her favorite book.
I’m excited to now talk to my granddaughter about her favorite book.
November 24, 2025
Such a sweet, wholesome book that surprisingly taught me some very interesting history about toys. I am so happy to own this sweet sweet book. :)
December 10, 2025
I read this book as a read aloud to my class and they loved it!
July 31, 2025
I relate to Zephyrina so much, because I too, would do anything for Pocket Bear.
I went into this not knowing what to expect or how I might feel about it. I'm usually not into reading books heavily about animals, especially ones from an animals POV. It's just usually not my cup of tea. As such I have yet to read a Katherine Applegate book until now. I am very glad I gave this a chance.
The book delighted me. The whole concept is quite charming and the characters tug on your heart straight away. The connections to history were so interesting, I learned things I may never have known- All stuffed bear related of course. It was overall a touching story, about making the world a little bit of a better place any small way you're able.
I think I will have to buy a copy of it for this kid I know, she would love Pocket Bear. But really who wouldn't.
Huge thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book!
I went into this not knowing what to expect or how I might feel about it. I'm usually not into reading books heavily about animals, especially ones from an animals POV. It's just usually not my cup of tea. As such I have yet to read a Katherine Applegate book until now. I am very glad I gave this a chance.
The book delighted me. The whole concept is quite charming and the characters tug on your heart straight away. The connections to history were so interesting, I learned things I may never have known- All stuffed bear related of course. It was overall a touching story, about making the world a little bit of a better place any small way you're able.
I think I will have to buy a copy of it for this kid I know, she would love Pocket Bear. But really who wouldn't.
Huge thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book!
September 28, 2025
Love Love LOVE Katherine Applegate. Playing with the secret lives of our pets and stuffed animals, a look at the recent war in Ukraine and those who fled and are picking up the pieces, as well as little bit of history revolving around 2 old bears. Loved it.
May 7, 2026
Zephyrina, a cat who is known by her family as a thief, or "Kleptocat", liberates items, such as socks, from the neighbours, but she also brins home discarded or lost toys. One such was Pocket Bear. He is a small teddy bear who was created during WWII, and held in a soldier's jacket pocket, and intended to be a little sign of home and kindness for a young man far from home and surrounded by horror.
Zepherina wanders the neighbourhood daily, but always returns to the home of mother Elizaveta and her daughter Dasha. They are refugees from the Ukraine. They fled their home after Elizabeta's husband was killed and Dasha was badly injured. Both of them clean up Zepherina's gifts, and set them outside for others to take, or to recover, if they lost their toy.
Pocket manages all the toys Zepherina brings back, keeping them happy and engaged during the night when the humans are asleep.
One day, Zepherina brings back another small teddy bear, and she and Pocket learn that Berwon, as Dasha names him, was held in the pocket of a German soldier during the war. Eventually, he was brought to the US. And somehow, many years later, ended up in the garbage, where Zepherina found him.
Berwon is happy to be clean and safe, but he becomes the focus of a somewhat unscrupulous antique toy dealer, known as Picky Vicky, and the curator or a toy museum. Together, Pocket and Zepherina must decide how to ensure Berwon eventually ends up somewhere he'll be happy and safe. This also has repercussions for Zepherina and her family.
This entertaining and moving story is a little Toy Story 2 with a smidge of Cruella de Ville and some history about WWII and the creation of teddy bears. It all comes together with the snarky and amusing narration of a cat to form a sweet story about rehomed toys, and a family of refugees rebuilding their lives in a new country.
Zepherina wanders the neighbourhood daily, but always returns to the home of mother Elizaveta and her daughter Dasha. They are refugees from the Ukraine. They fled their home after Elizabeta's husband was killed and Dasha was badly injured. Both of them clean up Zepherina's gifts, and set them outside for others to take, or to recover, if they lost their toy.
Pocket manages all the toys Zepherina brings back, keeping them happy and engaged during the night when the humans are asleep.
One day, Zepherina brings back another small teddy bear, and she and Pocket learn that Berwon, as Dasha names him, was held in the pocket of a German soldier during the war. Eventually, he was brought to the US. And somehow, many years later, ended up in the garbage, where Zepherina found him.
Berwon is happy to be clean and safe, but he becomes the focus of a somewhat unscrupulous antique toy dealer, known as Picky Vicky, and the curator or a toy museum. Together, Pocket and Zepherina must decide how to ensure Berwon eventually ends up somewhere he'll be happy and safe. This also has repercussions for Zepherina and her family.
This entertaining and moving story is a little Toy Story 2 with a smidge of Cruella de Ville and some history about WWII and the creation of teddy bears. It all comes together with the snarky and amusing narration of a cat to form a sweet story about rehomed toys, and a family of refugees rebuilding their lives in a new country.
April 8, 2026
Did I just tear up at the ending of a kids book about stuffed bears? I sure did! Probably because what the book is on the surface is not all that it accomplishes in its depth. A sweet portrayal of accepting and loving those who were on opposite sides not too long ago, and of recognizing the universal feelings we all can and do experience.
Dasha summed it up best (and brought me to tears) with how she described the lasting impression war leaves: “When you look at these two bears, maybe you just see old stuffed animals. But my family was in a war. And when I look at Berwon and Pocket, I think about the people they helped. Maybe adults, maybe kids. It doesn’t really matter, because when a bomb goes off, everybody is scared and wants someone to hold on to.” We’re all people who live and die and just because we come from different places and believe in different things doesn’t mean we can’t have empathy for that basic similarity we all share. That should be enough.
Dasha summed it up best (and brought me to tears) with how she described the lasting impression war leaves: “When you look at these two bears, maybe you just see old stuffed animals. But my family was in a war. And when I look at Berwon and Pocket, I think about the people they helped. Maybe adults, maybe kids. It doesn’t really matter, because when a bomb goes off, everybody is scared and wants someone to hold on to.” We’re all people who live and die and just because we come from different places and believe in different things doesn’t mean we can’t have empathy for that basic similarity we all share. That should be enough.
March 25, 2026
What a cute book! I loved the different characters of the toys and the sneaky cat thief. The history of the pocket bear, which was something I never knew about added a great plot to the story. It kind of reminded me of the story The Velveteen Rabbit. Having a classic old school charm about the story. I loved how it all wrapped up.
*thank you to the publisher and #netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book to read, all thoughts are always my own.
*thank you to the publisher and #netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book to read, all thoughts are always my own.
November 7, 2025
Book review is coming
December 26, 2025
The book this reminds me of actually is Growing Home by Beth Ferry, which came out a few months before this. I think I liked that one a little better. Both have a motley cast of non-human characters, a loving girl, and a villainous acquirer of antiques.
May 6, 2026
Brb this is one I’ll add to the list of class read alouds! How precious!!!
March 3, 2026
(Juvenile). Think Toy Story meets stuffed animals. The mom and daughter in the story are refugees from Ukraine.
Funny and endearing.
Funny and endearing.
April 30, 2026
I started this as a read aloud to my son, and when he lost interest, I kept going because I instantly fell in love with the characters, tone, and story. This was so heartwarming, and a wonderful way to address the heavy topic of war with young children. I will definitely be trying this again with him in a few years!
May 28, 2025
Katherine Applegate has a history of challenging my preconceived notions on what a good book should contain. First she did it with The One and Only Ivan. Now with Pocket Bear. I used to think that I only liked emotional books, and I had the idea that a book could only be emotional enough if the main characters were human. Well, alas!
Somehow Katherine Applegate made me care about what happened to an old stuffed bear. And believe me, that's not easy to do. Pocket Bear is about a mother and daughter (and cat!) who find, refurbish, and rehome stuffed animals and toys. It is all told from the perspective of the cat, Zephyrina, and includes plenty of trash-digging, mud-rolling, and dog-fighting. It's hilarious and is one of the cutest and coziest things I've read in a long time. From what I can tell, it also includes a lot of historical information about real stuffed bears, and it made me interested in doing more research on my own.
One of the things I appreciate most about Katherine Applegate's writing is her amazing descriptions. She makes me feel so much more than a lot of children's and middle-grade writers out there and transports the reader straight into the story. I also actually really enjoy the short chapters, which make it hard to stop reading. It's fast-paced and so much fun. Love, love, love this book. I don't think I have any real complaints about it.
I will recommend this book to anyone. I would say "anyone who likes books about stuffed bears," but I wouldn't exactly put myself in that category and hey, here we are!
I received this as a digital ARC through NetGalley.
Somehow Katherine Applegate made me care about what happened to an old stuffed bear. And believe me, that's not easy to do. Pocket Bear is about a mother and daughter (and cat!) who find, refurbish, and rehome stuffed animals and toys. It is all told from the perspective of the cat, Zephyrina, and includes plenty of trash-digging, mud-rolling, and dog-fighting. It's hilarious and is one of the cutest and coziest things I've read in a long time. From what I can tell, it also includes a lot of historical information about real stuffed bears, and it made me interested in doing more research on my own.
One of the things I appreciate most about Katherine Applegate's writing is her amazing descriptions. She makes me feel so much more than a lot of children's and middle-grade writers out there and transports the reader straight into the story. I also actually really enjoy the short chapters, which make it hard to stop reading. It's fast-paced and so much fun. Love, love, love this book. I don't think I have any real complaints about it.
I will recommend this book to anyone. I would say "anyone who likes books about stuffed bears," but I wouldn't exactly put myself in that category and hey, here we are!
I received this as a digital ARC through NetGalley.
December 17, 2025
Poignant or cloying? With both talking animals and stuffies, I found it tedious and requiring more suspension of disbelief than I could muster.
The war storyline was minor, and I would not choose this if you are looking for a novel about WW1.
This is one of two books this year with dolls/stuffed toys, helpful cats, and families in need of healing. Winter in the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz resonated much more strongly with me, and I just prefer her writing. If you know Katherine Applegate’s style, you probably already know whether or not you’ll enjoy this one.
If your kids want to read this, let them, but you might want to preview a couple chapters before choosing it for a read aloud.
The war storyline was minor, and I would not choose this if you are looking for a novel about WW1.
This is one of two books this year with dolls/stuffed toys, helpful cats, and families in need of healing. Winter in the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz resonated much more strongly with me, and I just prefer her writing. If you know Katherine Applegate’s style, you probably already know whether or not you’ll enjoy this one.
If your kids want to read this, let them, but you might want to preview a couple chapters before choosing it for a read aloud.
September 6, 2025
I don't know why I've never read a Katherine Applegate book before now because her writing is delightful! Pocketbear was a truly heartwarming and humorous toy-story featuring a WW1 mascot bear and his friend, a cat. It's the perfect middle grade read--fast paced and witty. I can't wait to add it to my classroom library and share it with my students.
*I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley. The above opinions are my own.
*I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley. The above opinions are my own.
March 28, 2026
I love Katherine Applegate already, but she really nails this one. The characters are just as loveable as Ivan and Ruby with a dash of historical fiction. She does personification like no one else. I loved being able to read a children’s book to third graders with a mention of the war in Ukraine and how it affected this little girl and her mother without getting into it too heavily. This book was perfection!
January 22, 2026
“…our only job is to wait with hope. Always with hope. And while we wait, to care for each other.” 🧸
Contemporary and yet timeless, POCKET BEAR is a children’s novel to cherish.
Told from the perspective of a mischievous cat, we meet Pocket Bear, a miniature bear in charge of the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured.
Discarded toys that need a new home are brought here for rehabilitation. When a teddy bear is found in a dumpster, the toys discover his story is unique and must be protected.
I felt the ending was slightly abrupt. It almost gave the impression of more stories to come. But it was satisfying, nonetheless.
Combining history with rich vocabulary and story-telling, this short treasure should have a permanent place on every shelf.
Contemporary and yet timeless, POCKET BEAR is a children’s novel to cherish.
Told from the perspective of a mischievous cat, we meet Pocket Bear, a miniature bear in charge of the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured.
Discarded toys that need a new home are brought here for rehabilitation. When a teddy bear is found in a dumpster, the toys discover his story is unique and must be protected.
I felt the ending was slightly abrupt. It almost gave the impression of more stories to come. But it was satisfying, nonetheless.
Combining history with rich vocabulary and story-telling, this short treasure should have a permanent place on every shelf.
November 9, 2025
This book is soooo charming. I loved it. It’s told from the perspective of a cat. I think Katherine applegate knows the minds of cats very well 😻
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