The teddy bears' picnic gets a modern twist in this warm and fuzzy picture book about a young teddy bear who learns that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Ollie is a regular bear with a regular job. He listens to his girl's stories about her days, he snuggles her to sleep and he is there waiting when she gets home from school. Just your typical teddy bear stuff. So when he is whisked away to the annual teddy bears' picnic, he feels insignificant compared to the other bears who do daring and daunting things: sleepovers, hospital stays--even a night in the lost and found!

After small talk with a regional stuffing manager, a department of cuddling official and a stitchery inspector; a stop at the snack table; and even some team building activities, it's time for the teddy bear service awards . . . and Ollie feels even more small and unimportant. But he soon learns that it's not just the big things that matter, it's the little things too.

While parents will love the tongue-in-cheek office-party details, kids and parents alike will fall in love with Ollie: a sweet bear who discovers that his love for his girl makes him very special indeed.
© Connie Tsang
VIKKI VANSICKLE is the author of a number of acclaimed novels for children including The Lightning Circle, Words That Start With B; Summer Days, Starry Nights; the award-winning The Winnowing; and picture books How to Decorate a Christmas Tree, If I Had a Gryphon; Teddy Bear of the Year; and Anonymouse. Vikki started her career as an independent bookseller and worked in children's publishing for twelve years. In addition to writing, she curates and presents regular book segments for CTV Your Morning. Currently, she lives and writes in Toronto. View titles by Vikki VanSickle
SYDNEY HANSON is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Why a Daughter Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang. Sydney was raised in Minnesota alongside numerous pets, and her illustrations and paintings still reflect a love for animals and the natural world, in picture books such as The Donkey's Song, Panda Pants, and Hugo and the Impossible Thing. In addition to her book illustrations, Sydney is an experienced production artist who has worked for animation companies such as Nickelodeon and Disney Interactive. Follow Sydney on Instagram at @sydwiki. View titles by Sydney Hanson
"A kind, fuzzy story. . . . Sincerely celebrates kindness and comfort." --Kirkus Reviews

"VanSickle amuses with on-the-job lingo, and Hanson’s enchanted scenes highlight teddies’ ability to comfort." --Publishers Weekly

"A well-written and lovingly illustrated book, one imbued with humour that readers of all ages will appreciate.” --Canadian Review of Materials

“[A] well-paced, sweet, and engaging story … The gentle lesson Ollie learns is something we could all benefit from hearing.” --Resource Links

About

The teddy bears' picnic gets a modern twist in this warm and fuzzy picture book about a young teddy bear who learns that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Ollie is a regular bear with a regular job. He listens to his girl's stories about her days, he snuggles her to sleep and he is there waiting when she gets home from school. Just your typical teddy bear stuff. So when he is whisked away to the annual teddy bears' picnic, he feels insignificant compared to the other bears who do daring and daunting things: sleepovers, hospital stays--even a night in the lost and found!

After small talk with a regional stuffing manager, a department of cuddling official and a stitchery inspector; a stop at the snack table; and even some team building activities, it's time for the teddy bear service awards . . . and Ollie feels even more small and unimportant. But he soon learns that it's not just the big things that matter, it's the little things too.

While parents will love the tongue-in-cheek office-party details, kids and parents alike will fall in love with Ollie: a sweet bear who discovers that his love for his girl makes him very special indeed.

Author

© Connie Tsang
VIKKI VANSICKLE is the author of a number of acclaimed novels for children including The Lightning Circle, Words That Start With B; Summer Days, Starry Nights; the award-winning The Winnowing; and picture books How to Decorate a Christmas Tree, If I Had a Gryphon; Teddy Bear of the Year; and Anonymouse. Vikki started her career as an independent bookseller and worked in children's publishing for twelve years. In addition to writing, she curates and presents regular book segments for CTV Your Morning. Currently, she lives and writes in Toronto. View titles by Vikki VanSickle
SYDNEY HANSON is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Why a Daughter Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang. Sydney was raised in Minnesota alongside numerous pets, and her illustrations and paintings still reflect a love for animals and the natural world, in picture books such as The Donkey's Song, Panda Pants, and Hugo and the Impossible Thing. In addition to her book illustrations, Sydney is an experienced production artist who has worked for animation companies such as Nickelodeon and Disney Interactive. Follow Sydney on Instagram at @sydwiki. View titles by Sydney Hanson

Praise

"A kind, fuzzy story. . . . Sincerely celebrates kindness and comfort." --Kirkus Reviews

"VanSickle amuses with on-the-job lingo, and Hanson’s enchanted scenes highlight teddies’ ability to comfort." --Publishers Weekly

"A well-written and lovingly illustrated book, one imbued with humour that readers of all ages will appreciate.” --Canadian Review of Materials

“[A] well-paced, sweet, and engaging story … The gentle lesson Ollie learns is something we could all benefit from hearing.” --Resource Links

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

On Monday, June 10th, Penguin Random House Education and DK Learning co-hosted a Reading with Purpose Summit Event in collaboration with Molly Ness, PhD. The event took place at Penguin Random House’s NYC headquarters and included sessions featuring leading education experts and a lunchtime author panel. The in-person professional learning event was built to show

Read more

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more