Pocket Bear

Katherine Applegate, beloved author of 'The One and Only Ivan,' delivers another moving middle-grade novel centered on an extraordinary animal character. Pocket Bear, a stuffed toy created during WWI to bring comfort to a soldier, now presides over the 'Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured.' This gentle yet profound story explores themes of kindness, resilience, and the many forms love can take, as Pocket Bear and his feline friend Zephyrina help other discarded toys find new purpose and belonging. It's a beautiful narrative for children aged 10-14, offering a safe space to discuss loss, acceptance, and the importance of empathy.

From #1 New York Times bestelling author, Katherine Applegate, here is a stunning tale of kindness and second chances. For fans of Odder, Wishtree, Willodeen, and The One and Only Ivan. Thimble-born from tip to toe, Pocket Bear remembers every moment of his becoming: the glimmering needle, the silken thread, the tender hands as each careful stitch brought him closer to himself. Born during the throes of WWI, he was designed to fit into the pocket of a soldier’s jacket, eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that he always gazed upward. That way, glancing at his pocket, a soldier would see an endearing token of love from someone back home, and, hopefully, a good luck charm. Now, over a century later, Pocket serves as unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where stuffed toy animals are refurbished and given a fresh opportunity to be loved. He and his best feline friend Zephyrina, known far and wide as “The Cat Burglar,” have seen it all, and then some. An unforgettable tale of bravery, loyalty, and kindness, Pocket reminds us all that love comes in many forms (sometimes filled with fluff), and that second chances are always possible.