The Bear who had Nothing to Wear

By Author / Illustrator

Jeanne Willis

Genre

Funny Stories

Age range(s)

Publisher

Scallywag Press

ISBN

9781915252036

Format

Hardback

Published

01-06-2023

Synopsis

Albie arrived wearing NOTHING but fur, he could have been either a Him or Her... Most teddy bears let their owner decide, but Albie would not, for a bear has its pride. But each outfit that Albie purchases - from fairy to pirate, from cowboy to elegant city gent - proves unsuitable in some way, and by the end of the week his bedroom is heaped with discarded clothes. How will he dress in order to feel like himself?

A hilarious story in verse that's great to read aloud, about dressing up and one bear's search for his own identity.

Find out more in this introduction by Jeanne Willis

Download Extract

Reviews

Award-winning writer Jeanne Willis is on top form in this tale of Albie the bear. Her charming use of rhyme makes The Bear Who Had Nothing To Wear a wonderful book to share and read aloud, whilst Brian Fitzgerald's colourful illustrations capture Albie's changeable personality perfectly.

Clothes-conscious Albie is determined to find the outfit that suits how he feels. But every day that is different; one day he wants to be a prince, and the next a Fairy Queen. He tries on and then discards more and more outfits until, after a particularly nasty incident, the truth finally dawns. When he is finally back to wearing his fur and his hat, he is free to be entirely himself.

This is a lovely book with a great message about finding your own identity and choosing for yourself how you present to the world. In school or nursery, this would be a fantastic way to start conversations about identity and how we view others. Does what you wear change who you are?

Picture book / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, teacher