Bear and Bird: The Cloud

Bear and Bird

by Jarvis

Readers all across the world have fallen in love with Bear and Bird through Jarvis’s young reader series. Now the duo features in their youngest adventure yet!

Cozy, funny, and with heaps of heart, this picture book—a prequel to the internationally successful young reader series—tells a story of first friendship from the beloved creator of The Boy with Flowers in His Hair, winner of the Oscar’s Book Prize.

When Bear arrives at the Woody Woods for the first time, he is looking for a friend. But it seems like all the friends are already taken. Then he meets Bird, who is looking for something, too—the Puffy Fluffy Octopus Cloud! Bear decides to help her look for it, and so begins an unexpected adventure . . . Will they ever find that octopus-shaped cloud? Perhaps they might find something even better!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published February 12, 2026

About the author

Jarvis is an illustrator and animator who has worked as both a record jacket designer and an animation director. He lives in Manchester, England.

Reviews

[er · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc!

Bear has just arrived to the Woody woods when, while trying to make some new friends, he meets Bird. The two of them join forces and go on and adventure to find the Fluffy Puffy Octopus cloud.


This was a lovely story, it showed the friendship between Bear and Bird from the beginning and their adventures were really cute. The illustrations have a particular style that I personally find really nice!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book. The colours are amazing and rich. And the story is so sweet. Loved it!

[Eline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vogel en beer en de wolk, is een hartverwarmend prentenboek dat kinderen meeneemt in een klein avontuur vol vriendschap en fantasie. In dit verhaal van de geliefde Vogel en Beer-serie maken we kennis met Beer, die nieuw is in het Bossige Bos en zich een beetje alleen voelt. Dat gevoel van “nieuw zijn” en je plek zoeken is herkenbaar voor jonge kinderen en wordt op een zachte en toegankelijke manier verteld.

Wanneer Beer op zoek gaat naar een vriend, lijkt iedereen al iemand te hebben. Tot hij Vogel ontmoet, die druk bezig is met haar zoektocht naar de mysterieuze Bolle Wollige Octopuswolk. Samen lezen ze een boek over wolken, bedenken plannen en organiseren zelfs een octopusfeestje. De zoektocht naar de wolk wordt zo een zoektocht naar verbinding. En misschien vinden ze uiteindelijk wel iets dat nog mooier is dan die bijzondere wolk. ⛅️ ♥️

Jarvis weet met weinig woorden een warm en grappig verhaal neer te zetten. De humor is speels en subtiel, perfect afgestemd op jonge kinderen. Tegelijk zit er een ontroerende laag onder: het verlangen naar vriendschap en erbij horen. Het verhaal is licht en luchtig, maar raakt daardoor des te sterker.

De illustraties van brengen het verhaal tot leven met frisse kleuren, speelse details en veel expressie. Beer en Vogel krijgen door kleine bewegingen en blikken een duidelijke persoonlijkheid, waardoor kinderen makkelijk meeleven. Fantasierijke elementen zoals de Bolle Wollige Octopuswolk maken het avontuur extra leuk en verrassend, en nodigen uit om iedere pagina goed te bekijken.

Beer en Vogel en de wolk is daardoor ideaal voor thuis of in de klas. Het verhaal nodigt uit tot praten over nieuw zijn, vriendschap en samenwerken, en leent zich perfect voor creatieve activiteiten zoals tekenen, knutselen of fantasierijke spelletjes rond het verhaal. Het boek is een toegankelijke introductie tot de Vogel en Beer-reeks, speciaal geschreven voor jongere kinderen, en biedt een fijne mix van humor, tederheid en avontuur.

Dankjewel uitgeverij Gottmer en boekencafé dat ik dit prachtige boek mocht lezen en recenseren.

[Reading Adventures · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cloud: A Bear and Bird Picture Book — A Sweet Reminder That Friendship Finds Us in the Most Unexpected Ways

Jarvis has created such a tender little treasure with The Cloud. Bear’s first day in the Woody Woods feels so real for little readers—wanting a friend, hoping to belong, and discovering that sometimes the perfect companion appears when you least expect it. I love the gentle message this story shares with children: friendships can come from anywhere, anyone, and in the most surprising shapes… even an octopus-shaped cloud.

My little ones now scan the sky for cloud creatures thanks to this book, and every sighting brings us right back to Bear and Bird’s adventure. Cozy, heartfelt, and full of wonder, this is a fantastic story to enjoy together as a family.

[Icha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear is looking for a friend, while Bird is looking for the Puffy Octopus Cloud. They met each other with no expectations, but turns out they were lucky to find each other. This heartwarming story encapsulates the meaning of genuine friendship with endless adventures. Both have different purposes, but ends up finding each other instead. It’s a lovely story, and it has a beautiful illustration to support it. Definitely a must-read for children so that they could understand that oftentimes, friendship comes in an unexpected way and in the right time.

Thank you Walker and NetGalley for the eARC!

[Becs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and thoughtful illustrations with an equally cute storyline. Bear is hoping to find a friend but it seems like all the friends are taken. But then he meets bird.

This is sweet and hopeful with colourful illustrations across each page; a story about finding where you fit, even when at first there doesn't seem room for you. I liked it - it definitely could have gone further than it did to really pull on the emotional component to that message, but the basis of it is lovely and enough for little readers to benefit from the message nonetheless.

ARC provided from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 12 February 2026 - publication day!

I thought that this was a really cute kids story and it had just the most wonderful illustrations to bring the story to life, I loved the style of them - they were really suited to the book.

The story was well written, it was easy to follow and I thought that Bear and Bird worked really well together - the book has a great underlying theme which I loved as a parent as it gave us plenty to talk about when we finished the story.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended and a lovely story!

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely easy-to-read picture book, that tells us how Bear and Bird became friends in the first place. Which was very pleasant for me as I'd not met either of them at all before now. Bear wants to find a friend, Bird wants something rather different, but seeing as that seems unavailable they both seem to settle for the friendship, in a charming way on a charming day. It's a strong four stars – leaning to a higher score still if you have a connection to the series through the other six books, and even has nice spot varnishing on the tactile cover to commend it.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

While looking for a friend, Bear comes across Bird, who is watching for a particular cloud. As they try to do something to see the cloud, they spend the day together, having fun. As the day comes to a close and they go their separate ways, they find they are missing each other.

This was such a cute book on friendship! I loved the illustrations and the story line kept young readers engaged. Highly recommend this one for young ones.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is yet another heartwarming addition to the story. I have loved the series since the first book. The story is simple but it has a message behind that will tug at your heartstring. Fantastic read.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jarvis's beloved Bear and Bird are in their first picture book, and The Cloud is the origin story of their gentle and beautiful friendship. A great introduction to a wonderful duo, reminiscent of Frog and Toad.