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Snow Bears
Acclaimed storyteller Martin Waddell returns with a warm winter’s tale of three little bears who love to pretend - and a Mommy Bear who loves to play along.
"But where are my baby bears?" Mommy Bear asked.
"I don’t know where we are," said the biggest snow bear.
When Mommy Bear comes to look for her baby bears, she finds three snow bears instead. They don’t look quite like her bears, but they do like to slide down the snowy slope and throw snowballs, just like her bears do. . . . Little readers will love being in on the charming snow bear game, illustrated by Sarah Fox-Davies with all the crisp beauty of a snowy day.
"But where are my baby bears?" Mommy Bear asked.
"I don’t know where we are," said the biggest snow bear.
When Mommy Bear comes to look for her baby bears, she finds three snow bears instead. They don’t look quite like her bears, but they do like to slide down the snowy slope and throw snowballs, just like her bears do. . . . Little readers will love being in on the charming snow bear game, illustrated by Sarah Fox-Davies with all the crisp beauty of a snowy day.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2002
2 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Martin Waddell
478 books96 followershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_W...
Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton
Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).
Also writes under the pen name Catherine Sefton
Martin Waddell is the author of more than one hundred books for young readers.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2004).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 17, 2017
Snow Bears is by the popular storyteller Martin Waddell, and was first published in 2002. It is a lovely picture book tale for midwinter, all about three little bears who love to pretend, and their Mummy Bear who joins in so gamely with them.
The three little bears are playing in the snow. Gradually more and more snow sticks to them until their fur is almost covered with it. When Mummy Bear comes to look for her baby bears, she finds three “snow bears” instead,
““But where are my baby bears?” Mummy Bear asked.
“I don't know where we are,” said the biggest snow bear.
“I haven’t seen us,” said the middle-sized snow bear.
“We aren’t here, Mummy Bear,” said the smallest snow bear.
“Then who can I play with?” sighed Mummy Bear.”
All the little “snow bears” agree that she can play with them, and they have great fun, sliding down the snowy slope and throwing snowballs. Eventually they get tired, so kind Mummy Bear invites the snow bears in to sit by the fire, while she makes them some toast.
Of course we all know what will happen to the “snow bears” in this warm-hearted tale. When she comes in from the kitchen, Mummy Bear acts as as if she is very surprised to find that the snow bears have left, and her three baby bears have returned. What should she do with the toast she had made for the snow bears? The baby bears “explain” to Mummy Bear that they were playing a trick on her all along, and that they will eat the toast for her.
This is a cut above many children’s picture books. It is beautifully written and illustrated, with both language structure and characters which echo the traditional folk tale of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”. The illustrations by Sarah Fox-Davies are naturalistically and delicately painted using a muted palette, and are full of crispness and light. There is even an attractive smattering of sparkle about the snow covering the backs of the three little bears on the cover.
Children and adults alike will delight in this superior short tale, and in being in on all the fun of the “snow bear” game.
Edit:
I am delighted to also find this as a chunky little board book, for even younger children. Link here. At just the right size for a toddler to carry around with them, and slightly abridged to 24 pages, it is perfect, even without the sparkles. The illustrations, in watercolour and pencil, are the same. I am looking forward to giving this to another little friend, my cousin, who will be just two.
The three little bears are playing in the snow. Gradually more and more snow sticks to them until their fur is almost covered with it. When Mummy Bear comes to look for her baby bears, she finds three “snow bears” instead,
““But where are my baby bears?” Mummy Bear asked.
“I don't know where we are,” said the biggest snow bear.
“I haven’t seen us,” said the middle-sized snow bear.
“We aren’t here, Mummy Bear,” said the smallest snow bear.
“Then who can I play with?” sighed Mummy Bear.”
All the little “snow bears” agree that she can play with them, and they have great fun, sliding down the snowy slope and throwing snowballs. Eventually they get tired, so kind Mummy Bear invites the snow bears in to sit by the fire, while she makes them some toast.
Of course we all know what will happen to the “snow bears” in this warm-hearted tale. When she comes in from the kitchen, Mummy Bear acts as as if she is very surprised to find that the snow bears have left, and her three baby bears have returned. What should she do with the toast she had made for the snow bears? The baby bears “explain” to Mummy Bear that they were playing a trick on her all along, and that they will eat the toast for her.
This is a cut above many children’s picture books. It is beautifully written and illustrated, with both language structure and characters which echo the traditional folk tale of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”. The illustrations by Sarah Fox-Davies are naturalistically and delicately painted using a muted palette, and are full of crispness and light. There is even an attractive smattering of sparkle about the snow covering the backs of the three little bears on the cover.
Children and adults alike will delight in this superior short tale, and in being in on all the fun of the “snow bear” game.
Edit:
I am delighted to also find this as a chunky little board book, for even younger children. Link here. At just the right size for a toddler to carry around with them, and slightly abridged to 24 pages, it is perfect, even without the sparkles. The illustrations, in watercolour and pencil, are the same. I am looking forward to giving this to another little friend, my cousin, who will be just two.
January 2, 2022
Lovely story about a mother bear who pretends that the bear cubs she finds covered in the snow are not her babies, they go along with this until it gets too cold and they want hot toast by the fire. A charming storyline with some great illustrations.
November 14, 2019
I enjoyed this story so much better than Martin Waddell's earlier work, Owl Babies. There's a solid storyline, creative and fun. And the repetition works seamlessly here.
Review from a grown-up: I really enjoyed this!
Review from a grown-up: I really enjoyed this!
March 10, 2015
This is a wonderfully book for k-3 to enjoy. The paragraphs are fairly lengthy but with simple to semi-simple words. The book is full of sight words. The illustrations are beautifully done. You could use this book to let the students predict or retell the events that took place.
April 2, 2023
"When Mummy Bear comes out to play with her baby bears, she finds three small snow bears instead. They don't look like her baby bears - but they love to play just the same games!!
A charming story with beautiful illustrations. About playfulness and the relationship between a mother and her children. A nice ending with hot toast by a warm fire.
3 stars.
A charming story with beautiful illustrations. About playfulness and the relationship between a mother and her children. A nice ending with hot toast by a warm fire.
3 stars.
December 9, 2025
We had a snow day ourselves today so this was the perfect bedtime story. This book has two things my son loves, snow and bears. A fun story of pretend. Baby bears are covered in snow and Mama bear pretends they are snow bears and is looking for her baby bears. Silly snow games ensue until they go home and warm up. The illustrations are gorgeous, too.
November 8, 2020
Reminded me of Owl Babies, also by Martin Waddell, which I read to my children a hundred times. Spectacular illustrations by Sarah Fox-Davies. Makes me want to rent a cabin in the snowy woods with children.
February 20, 2017
Very cute story by Martin Waddell of "Owl Babies" fame.
September 17, 2017
A bit repetitive but cute
September 25, 2018
Three little bear cubs pretend they are snow bears and their mama bear goes along with their fun. This is a board book with wonderful illustrations.
September 30, 2018
Very cute book with lovely illustrations. Looking forward to giving this to my niece for Christmas :)
April 8, 2019
A lovely tale about bears with repetitive phrases. A good book to read with reception children.
May 17, 2019
Read. Found amongst a pile of magazines.
November 7, 2019
A competently illustrated story about indulging the silliness of children. The repetition and predictability of the text can help beginning readers cope with the longer than usual paragraph length.
February 20, 2020
2.5 stars
May 18, 2020
Amazing illustrations. We really enjoyed the plot of the story.
November 30, 2020
Similar storyline to the Goldilocks
Nice story for KS1 around Christmas
Nice story for KS1 around Christmas
December 18, 2020
Heart warming winter tale of 3 bears and their mother. They play games in the snow! Really funny and beautifully illustrated.
February 22, 2021
Three little bears go out to play in the snow and become Snow Bears!
Quick and fun with easy text for young readers.
Quick and fun with easy text for young readers.
January 6, 2022
Perfect little snowy story about three little bears who like playing in the snow. Realistic illustrations. Great for a read-aloud.
January 29, 2023
Nice gentle story
November 2, 2023
A cute little tale about three little bears who “hid” themselves in the snow and “trick” their mommy bear into playing with them as she wonders, “where are my baby bears?”
January 8, 2024
This was a cute story with good illustrations that I’m sure most kids would like. I don’t love it when stories use a repetitive text structure.
September 27, 2025
Sweet tale of a bear family playing snow bears!! Pretty illustrations.
December 11, 2025
An adorable story with clever lines and beautiful drawings. My four year old wanted to read it again and again, and spent the day re-enacting the book.
September 23, 2015
This is a lovely read and aimed at under 5’s. It is about 3 little bears who are covered in snow and their mother pretends she does not know it is them. This reminds me of times I have played the same game with my own daughter whilst she is wearing dressing up clothes, and am sure other children will relate to this also. It has good repetition and the use of onomatopoeia helps young children create a more vivid picture of parts of the story. The illustrations are soft and calming and are simple in colour, with the use of a warmer yellow colour used once they all go inside out of the cold. The bears are not named and are just called smallest, middle-sized and biggest so very young children will not have the confusion of trying to remember which bear has which name. I like the inference that the smallest bear can’t keep up with his/her older siblings and that the family rally round and and all go inside in the warm, which is likely to happen in real life family situations. A warm-hearted happy story about a mother looking after her children which I look forward to reading to a class full of children.
June 10, 2014
Author: Martin Waddell
Illustrator: Sarah Fox-Davies
First Published: 2003
Includes: Notes for parents and teachers
image from walker.co.uk
A nice bedtime story - cuddly family scenario with mum playing with the kids in the snow. Nothing overly remarkable but it perfectly hits the spot.
Age:
Read aloud - 3+
Read yourself - 7+
References:
Martin Waddell on w'pedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Waddell
(ISBN 9780744594881)
-CR-
Illustrator: Sarah Fox-Davies
First Published: 2003
Includes: Notes for parents and teachers
image from walker.co.uk
A nice bedtime story - cuddly family scenario with mum playing with the kids in the snow. Nothing overly remarkable but it perfectly hits the spot.
Age:
Read aloud - 3+
Read yourself - 7+
References:
Martin Waddell on w'pedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Waddell
(ISBN 9780744594881)
-CR-
March 7, 2015
“Snow bear” By Martin Waddell is about three little bears covered with snow that pretend to be snow bears. Their mother asks them where her bear cubs are and they tell her they don't know, but they will play with her. The mother and babies slide down the hill and have a snowball fight. Then they all go into the house to eat toast by the fire. It is a great story of mother’s love and fun. This is a great book that helps to develop young children’s inferential skills as the children can deduce from the book what will happen next. It is riddled with pictorials that would help to develop the imaginative skills of children in the early years. I will recommend this book to children in the early years and reception classes.
January 28, 2016
I felt this story made the mistake many adults make of dumbing down and talking down to children. The snow bears talk in a way which an adult is meant to read as childishly cute but I think children find bemusing. The illustrations are cute and the theme of mother playing with, caring for and loving babies is one that children are absolutely obsessed with at childcare so despite the flaws I see in it the book DOES get a workout.
It just conflicted with the model of "capable" child that I both work from and see evidence for around me. The children in the story couldn't seem to keep their story straight
It just conflicted with the model of "capable" child that I both work from and see evidence for around me. The children in the story couldn't seem to keep their story straight
March 1, 2011
This was the cutest book! The text and the illustrations work so well together. Three little bears covered with snow pretend to be snow bears. Their mother asks them where her bear cubs are and they tell her they don't know, but they will play with her. The mother and babies slide down the hill and have a snowball fight. Then they all go into the house to eat toast by the fire. A story of mother love and fun. I can see reading this to a child again and again because the story and the message are so loving.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews