Bear loves his forest home, but sometimes he gets lonely. As the days grow shorter, Bear comes up with a festive plan to make friends. Bear loves his forest home, but sometimes he gets lonely. It’s hard being the biggest animal around. As the days grow shorter and autumn turns to winter, Bear springs into action and comes up with a festive plan to make friends with all the other forest creatures. Bear makes invitations for all the other forest animals, inviting them to a winter party in his den. He decorates his home and lights a roaring fire, and bakes delicious treats for the creatures he hopes will soon become his friends. But as the night grows dark, Bear worries that his forest neighbors may be too frightened to come. Just when he is about to give up hope, Bear spots Deer peeking out from behind a tree... Written by award-winning author Deborah Hodge, Bear’s Winter Party is brought to life with exuberant illustrations by Lisa Cinar. Together they have created a story that is at once timeless, tender and true. Includes a recipe for Bear’s own Honey Ginger Cookies. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5 Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6 Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.

This springtime companion to Bear’s Winter Party combines fifteen kid-friendly recipes with a sweet story about friendship and food. When Bear wakes up after a long, cold winter, he makes a special spring lunch and invites Fox to join him. The food is delicious, and Fox asks Bear to teach him how to cook. They walk through the forest collecting honey, nuts and other wild ingredients, and they greet their friends along the way. With an armload of tasty foods, Bear and Fox return to Bear’s den and cook up a feast to share. Afterwards, Bear writes down his recipes so that Fox (and you!) can enjoy many marvelous meals. His cookbook — Best of Bear — offers a selection of kid-friendly, forest-themed recipes, including nut burgers, wild greens pita pizza, hazelnut–chocolate chip cookies and a wild strawberry smoothie. Readers can revisit the animal friends from Bear’s Winter Party and try out fifteen fun recipes in this playful story/cookbook from award-winning author Deborah Hodge, featuring exuberant art by Lisa Cinar. Key Text Features author’s note recipes index Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.5 Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, drawing on a wide reading of a range of text types.

Have you ever wanted to play when no one else did?

In a cumulative story, one animal after another asks to come in out of the winter cold to sleep in Bearsie Bear's big bed.

A bear family amuses itself with summer and winter activities such as walking, swimming, making snowmen, and decorating trees.

Come for a visit in Bear Country with this classic First Time Book® from Stan and Jan Berenstain. Join Papa, Mama, and Brother, as they help Sister celebrate her birthday. The special day is not all fun and games when Sister becomes overwhelmed by all of the festivities. This beloved story is a perfect way to teach children about birthdays and what’s most important about them.