Pocket Bear

by Katherine Applegate

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

This heartwarming tale of courage and kindness follows Pocket, a small plush bear, who has spent over a century traveling from pocket to pocket bringing to bring comfort and joy to those in need. Pocket and his best friend Zephyrina, a fluffy cat, embark on various adventures and learn the meaning of hope, friendship and bravery.

Meet Pocket, created as a good luck charm for soldiers going into battle, whose bravery and loyalty lives on long after the war.

From Katherine Applegate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Odder 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.

Don't miss more heartwarming books by Katherine Applegate:

Odder

Wishtree

Crenshaw

Willodeen

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250904362
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	09/09/2025
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.55(w) x 7.75(h) x 0.95(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Katherine Applegate is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of beloved and award-winning books for young readers, including Odder, Home of the Brave, Crenshaw, Wishtree, Willodeen, and The One and Only Ivan, for which she won the Newbery Medal. She is also the author of the Animorphs series, and a beginning reader series, Doggo and Pupper, illustrated by Charlie Alder. Katherine Applegate lives in Southern California with her family.

Editorial Reviews

A Junior Library Guild GOLD STANDARD Selection

★ "Newbery Medalist Applegate weaves a gently sophisticated tale that considers the trauma brought about by war on those forced to endure it. Zephyrina’s grudging first-person POV injects humor into tender and eloquent narrative sequences, which Santoso expertly complements with detailed grayscale illustrations depicting moments such as Pocket’s loving creation and a midnight conference of toys. Across brief yet rousing chapters, this treasure of a book evokes laughter, tears, and introspection in equal measure. "—Publishers Weekly, starred & boxed review

★ "Applegate’s writing is exquisitely nuanced; she couches profound themes in accessible language that depicts relatable situations. Gentle, generous Elizaveta and Dasha poignantly underscore the human impact of wars. Santoso’s enchanting, delicate, black-and-white illustrations bring the timeless feeling of a classic to this hopeful, humanizing story of the distressed looking out for each other. Poignant and heartwarming." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "On its surface, this Toy Story–esque tale is a gentle fantasyadventure with a dash of mystery, but Applegate adds layers that give the story meaningful depth. The history of teddy bears is deftly stitched into the narrative, and the echoes of war quietly reverberate through the tale in unexpected ways. Soft graphite chapter illustrations reflect the story’s sweetness in charming detail, while Zephyrina’s narration adds a memorable and comic touch to this salute to friendship and second chances.

....Applegate's books are reliably wonderful..."—Booklist, starred review

From the Publisher