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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.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2025
308 people are currently reading
21300 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Applegate
280 books6,273 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 423 reviews
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 💫🧸
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!
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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 😻
October 19, 2025
Delightful. This story is a wonderful read, especially to a child. Love this book!
September 30, 2025
Zephyrina is a Robin Hood of sorts. She 'steals' unwanted or lost toys, brings them back to Dasha, a young Ukrainian refugee, who with her mom Elizaveta, cleans and mends the toys to give them a second chance to find a home and the love of a child. Zephyrina is also a cat. She reports to Pocket, a little bear who is in charge of all the toys as long as they're with Second Chances. But everything changes when Zephyrina finds a very old bear in a trash can.
Everyone should read this book -- young or old! It is the most heartwarming, unique story. I absolutely loved every minute of it.
My only 'critique' is that I wish there were more of Charles Santoso's illustrations throughout because they were absolutely wonderful and truly brought the story to life.
Everyone should read this book -- young or old! It is the most heartwarming, unique story. I absolutely loved every minute of it.
My only 'critique' is that I wish there were more of Charles Santoso's illustrations throughout because they were absolutely wonderful and truly brought the story to life.
October 5, 2025
I would give this book even more stars if I could!
November 20, 2025
Very cute, and a good mix of fiction, a bit of history, and a bit of modern-day resonance.
I don’t know why sometimes with younger-age books, I find the verb tenses to be off, but I think maybe it’s the shorter sentence structure that makes it feel that way.
Probably a 4 for the target audience, but I would give it a 3 for adults looking to pick it up.
I don’t know why sometimes with younger-age books, I find the verb tenses to be off, but I think maybe it’s the shorter sentence structure that makes it feel that way.
Probably a 4 for the target audience, but I would give it a 3 for adults looking to pick it up.
September 25, 2025
Another AMAZING book by one of my favorite authors!! This book was SOOOOO good!!! I love Katherine applegate’s writing style, and just enjoyed this book soo much!!
“Good friends are like stars, you never see them but you know they are there” I wish I had a pocket bear of my own!! 🧸❤️ (the cover shows his actual size) The ending though 😭😭 I was literally SOBBING, and I usually don’t cry over sad endings 🥹 the ending was beautiful though! Overall one of the best books I’ve read this year, and recommend to anyone and everyone, young or old (READ THIS BOOK!!!)
“Good friends are like stars, you never see them but you know they are there” I wish I had a pocket bear of my own!! 🧸❤️ (the cover shows his actual size) The ending though 😭😭 I was literally SOBBING, and I usually don’t cry over sad endings 🥹 the ending was beautiful though! Overall one of the best books I’ve read this year, and recommend to anyone and everyone, young or old (READ THIS BOOK!!!)
October 22, 2025
Fantastic one. Did you know about pocket bears that soldiers carried during WWI? We didn't. This is one of my auto reads/ authors, and she never disappoints. With a combination of always relevant and interesting research plus always amazing characters, we know that we are in for an emotional journey. The end was powerful with them together: two unlikely bears.
Thief cat (super awesome) rescues lost toys, and the humans in Second Chances make them adoptable again. There are so many layers and can be explored in the classroom with a multitude of themes from friendship to historical facts and the first teddy bears (stuffed animals) history. It's not too long, and it's easy to read.
thank you publisher for the arc on netgalley
Thief cat (super awesome) rescues lost toys, and the humans in Second Chances make them adoptable again. There are so many layers and can be explored in the classroom with a multitude of themes from friendship to historical facts and the first teddy bears (stuffed animals) history. It's not too long, and it's easy to read.
thank you publisher for the arc on netgalley
September 6, 2025
Thanks so much to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review! And for being chill about it when I brought a Scholastic book to a Macmillan book's signing line. (And thank you Katherine Applegate for being willing to sign Animorphs #19, The Departure. Total starstruck moment.)
top 10 books that will make you want to hug your cat
What can I say, Pocket Bear is kiiiind of a slam dunk. If you are even 1% sentimental about either cat rescue or stuffed animals, your heart will be full. Perhaps my psychic defenses were low when I picked it up, but I wasn't expecting it to be so poignant! The voice of Applegate's scrappy, cynical stray cat narrator takes what could have been a saccharine story and turns it into something genuinely reflective, that handles some serious themes in a graceful, age appropriate way. I should have known the author of "Tweens Turn Into Wacky Animals! Also, War is Hell" would write "Toys Come to Life at Night to Play With a Cat! Also, War is Hell." Or maybe War is Heck, considering the target age group here.
One of my favorite things about Applegate's work is the way she's able to meet kids at their level without ever talking down to them, and this book is a great example of that. There are some challenging words in here, but they're presented in a way where a kid could get the gist from context clues, and maybe learn some new vocabulary.
Concept-wise, Pocket Bear is nothing wildly original—think one part Lady and the Tramp and two parts Toy Story 2, with some Miyazakiesque anti-war themes thrown in. And if that sounds like a fantastic combination, that's because it is. I also really enjoyed the detailed illustrations (and the bookmark set that came with the ARC! Adorable.) It was great to have a visual aid for the antique toys described (and nice to learn some actual history through that lens.)
In conclusion: Lovely little book! If Katherine Applegate has no fans, I am dead.
top 10 books that will make you want to hug your cat
What can I say, Pocket Bear is kiiiind of a slam dunk. If you are even 1% sentimental about either cat rescue or stuffed animals, your heart will be full. Perhaps my psychic defenses were low when I picked it up, but I wasn't expecting it to be so poignant! The voice of Applegate's scrappy, cynical stray cat narrator takes what could have been a saccharine story and turns it into something genuinely reflective, that handles some serious themes in a graceful, age appropriate way. I should have known the author of "Tweens Turn Into Wacky Animals! Also, War is Hell" would write "Toys Come to Life at Night to Play With a Cat! Also, War is Hell." Or maybe War is Heck, considering the target age group here.
One of my favorite things about Applegate's work is the way she's able to meet kids at their level without ever talking down to them, and this book is a great example of that. There are some challenging words in here, but they're presented in a way where a kid could get the gist from context clues, and maybe learn some new vocabulary.
Concept-wise, Pocket Bear is nothing wildly original—think one part Lady and the Tramp and two parts Toy Story 2, with some Miyazakiesque anti-war themes thrown in. And if that sounds like a fantastic combination, that's because it is. I also really enjoyed the detailed illustrations (and the bookmark set that came with the ARC! Adorable.) It was great to have a visual aid for the antique toys described (and nice to learn some actual history through that lens.)
In conclusion: Lovely little book! If Katherine Applegate has no fans, I am dead.
October 26, 2025
This was a very relaxing and quick read, especially coming directly after that long horror book I had just finished. I got caught up the the adventures of the cat named Zaphyrina. That cat had tons of personality too. Her actions drive the story forward. See, the cat is a thief but is also very poor at jumping. And she Zeph grew up as a street cat closeness to humans is rather scary - although a pat on the head is ok.
The other characters in here are very memorable too, especially Picky Vicky the antique dealer! Boy, I hated her! You read this you will probably hate her too!! Crooked as they come and not an honest bone in her body!
And while this may be a fluffy kid's book about toys that secretly come to life at night, it actually asks some serious questions. And truthfully I didn't know the answer. And I think that surprised me. Is it better for a homeless abandoned toy to be given to a new child (and then in the future to wind up thrown out again) or is it better for the toy to go to the museum?? Because the two toy bears in here are antiques, dating from The Great War (World War I).
I loved all the crazy antics of Zeph in here. This was just fun to read. I actually read the entire book in a few hours. Oh, and it has the coolest black and white illustrations in it too! It was fun to look at the pictures, to see what I could see.
Reading this made me remember the stuffed animals I had as a kid. I never had any bears though. I have seen bears similar to Berwon before but not the pocket bears.
The other characters in here are very memorable too, especially Picky Vicky the antique dealer! Boy, I hated her! You read this you will probably hate her too!! Crooked as they come and not an honest bone in her body!
And while this may be a fluffy kid's book about toys that secretly come to life at night, it actually asks some serious questions. And truthfully I didn't know the answer. And I think that surprised me. Is it better for a homeless abandoned toy to be given to a new child (and then in the future to wind up thrown out again) or is it better for the toy to go to the museum?? Because the two toy bears in here are antiques, dating from The Great War (World War I).
I loved all the crazy antics of Zeph in here. This was just fun to read. I actually read the entire book in a few hours. Oh, and it has the coolest black and white illustrations in it too! It was fun to look at the pictures, to see what I could see.
Reading this made me remember the stuffed animals I had as a kid. I never had any bears though. I have seen bears similar to Berwon before but not the pocket bears.
November 27, 2025
“Sometimes the most precious things in life are right under our nose.”
I recommend reading this book in general but I especially recommend reading this book if you’re taking any high school or college classes where you need to read and break down/do reports on a certain number of books per quarter. It’s a very fast read so you’ll be done quickly, but there are a lot of small interactions that carry a lot of weight and meaning, which makes it great for analyzing. It’s also just an excellent de-stressor which—let’s be real—every student on the planet needs. Perfect book for a school project if that’s something you’re looking for, I wish I had found this in when I was in high school.
Anyways I assumed this would be an emotional read—I was right! Very wholesome but not afraid to be serious either, I didn’t cry but I teared up a few times! An excellent spin on the concept of living toys, earned 5 stars for sure! 🧸🧣
August 10, 2025
What about this book wasn't good? i LOVED it! I want to read it to my children. it was so sweet and hopeful. I really thought with a book about a wartime bear id be bawling! However, I only teared up from how amazing it was.
Pocket and Berwin's story was so impactful. Thats the only way to describe it. Everyone was a memorable character. Dasha with her loving heart was ine of my favorites. She has the heart of anyone who wants a better world and is willing to chip away at making a small dent of good. Z was the blessing The Second Chance Toys needed, but didn't appreciate. Just watching Z grow into who she needed to be was incredible.
I will remember this story and pass it down to my kids as soon as I can get a copy.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Pocket and Berwin's story was so impactful. Thats the only way to describe it. Everyone was a memorable character. Dasha with her loving heart was ine of my favorites. She has the heart of anyone who wants a better world and is willing to chip away at making a small dent of good. Z was the blessing The Second Chance Toys needed, but didn't appreciate. Just watching Z grow into who she needed to be was incredible.
I will remember this story and pass it down to my kids as soon as I can get a copy.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
September 25, 2025
Yes this might be a young children’s book, absolutely appropriate for 2nd grade plus, but as an adult you can appreciate it for so much more than a simple story.
When I saw it on release day in the book store, something drew me to the cover, I picked it up and read the description and knew I absolutely had to buy it, it just sounded so sweet. I am so happy that I did!
It is the sweetest most darling story that will give any reader, at any age, a reason to smile and quite possibly tear up. It is absolutely adorable. You’ll quickly fall in love with Pocket Bear, BerWon and Zephyrina aka “kleptocat” and their story about true friendship, love and letting go. It also is a deeper story about continued hope in difficult times, knowing when it's time for a new adventure and how you can reconcile your differences even when you might be on opposing sides.
Don’t skip the author’s note at the end, which actually shows that parts of this story are actually historical facts, mixed in with the magical parts of story telling.
Just adorable. Absolutely recommend.
When I saw it on release day in the book store, something drew me to the cover, I picked it up and read the description and knew I absolutely had to buy it, it just sounded so sweet. I am so happy that I did!
It is the sweetest most darling story that will give any reader, at any age, a reason to smile and quite possibly tear up. It is absolutely adorable. You’ll quickly fall in love with Pocket Bear, BerWon and Zephyrina aka “kleptocat” and their story about true friendship, love and letting go. It also is a deeper story about continued hope in difficult times, knowing when it's time for a new adventure and how you can reconcile your differences even when you might be on opposing sides.
Don’t skip the author’s note at the end, which actually shows that parts of this story are actually historical facts, mixed in with the magical parts of story telling.
Just adorable. Absolutely recommend.
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