Bear and Bunny
Bear and Bunny
A bear and a bunny who think the other is the same species as they are. By Daniel Pinkwater.
Read Aloud for Your Family
Press play, gather the kids, and let the story do the work.
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ABOUT THE CREATORS
About the Author and Illustrator
AUTHOR
Daniel Pinkwater
American author of children's picture books and novels known for Bear and Bunny.
ILLUSTRATOR
Will Hillenbrand
American illustrator of over 60 picture books, known for seasonal read alouds.
Daniel Pinkwater
Daniel Pinkwater is an American author and NPR commentator known for offbeat childrenβs books including The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and the Snarkout Boys series. Bear and Bunny is a follow-up to his picture book Bear in Love, also illustrated by Will Hillenbrand.
Read about Daniel Pinkwater β
Illustrator
Will Hillenbrand
Will Hillenbrand is an American illustrator whose mixed-media work brings warmth and gentle humor to every page. His other picture books include Spring Is Here and the Bear and Mole series. He lives in Ohio with his family.
Learn about Will Hillenbrand β
Who This Book Is For
The book is recommended for ages 4 to 6. It works best for the child who loves a quiet, gentle friendship story with a gentle joke about perspective. The mistaken-identity humor rewards the kind of listening where the kid notices before the narrator explains.
What Happens in the Book
Bear and Bunny are firm friends. They walk through the forest together, they sing songs about their adventures, and they tell each other about the things they have done on the days they were apart. Bear thinks Bunny is also a bear. Bunny thinks Bear is also a bunny. Neither one has ever questioned that.
One day Bunny suggests they get a pet. A pet, Bear asks, what is that. A pet, Bunny says, is an animal you take care of and feed and it loves you. Bear cannot think of any animal that would fit. They walk a little further and they find a small frog sitting on a high branch. They decide it is a kitty, they rescue it from the perch, and they take it home as their new pet. The narrator, very gently, lets the joke sit without explaining it.
Bear and Bunny walk through the forest, each one certain the other is the same species.
Who This Book Is For
Two very different friends who are perfectly right for each other.
This is a good pick for families who already loved Bear in Love, or who are looking for a low-key friendship story. It fits well in a bedtime pile, alongside Bear in Love or other books about animal friends.
Why It Works for Kids
The book reads in about five minutes at a normal pace. That makes it a good bedtime read. The narration has a Milne-like cadence, which is exactly the kind of pacing that helps a kid settle in. It also opens up a small conversation about perspective.
The narration has a Milne-like cadence, which is exactly the kind of pacing that helps a kid settle in. β Bear and Bunny
Learn More About This Book
Official & Community
- Publisher Page (Candlewick)
- Reviews on Goodreads
- Daniel Pinkwater on Wikipedia
- Candlewick Press on Wikipedia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bear and Bunny about?
Bear and Bunny is a picture book about a bear and a bunny who are fond friends. Each one believes the other is the same species as they are. They walk through the forest together, share stories, and decide to get a pet. The mistaken-identity joke is gentle and never explained.
Who wrote Bear and Bunny?
Daniel Pinkwater wrote Bear and Bunny, with illustrations by Will Hillenbrand. It was published by Candlewick in 2015 as the sequel to Bear in Love.
What age is Bear and Bunny for?
The publisher recommends Bear and Bunny for ages 4 to 6. Younger kids will enjoy the soft illustrations and the mistaken-identity joke, while early readers can start to pick up on the humor about perspective.
Is Bear and Bunny good for a read aloud?
Yes. The story reads in about five minutes and has a quiet, gentle pacing that pairs well with bedtime or a slow afternoon. The Milne-like cadence helps a child settle in.
