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Bear and Bird: The Cloud

Author Jarvis
Illustrated by Jarvis
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Hardcover
$18.99 US
9.44"W x 10.94"H x 0.37"D   | 15 oz | 30 per carton
On sale May 12, 2026 | 40 Pages | 9781536252484
Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2

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Readers all across the world have fallen in love with Bear and Bird through Jarvis’s young reader series. Now the duo features in their youngest adventure yet!

Cozy, funny, and with heaps of heart, this picture book—a prequel to the internationally successful young reader series—tells a story of first friendship from the beloved creator of The Boy with Flowers in His Hair, winner of the Oscar’s Book Prize.

When Bear arrives at the Woody Woods for the first time, he is looking for a friend. But it seems like all the friends are already taken. Then he meets Bird, who is looking for something, too—the Puffy Fluffy Octopus Cloud! Bear decides to help her look for it, and so begins an unexpected adventure . . . Will they ever find that octopus-shaped cloud? Perhaps they might find something even better!
  • SELECTION | 2026
    Junior Library Guild Selection
This gentle ­prequel stands firmly on its own, offering an ­accessible origin story for young fans and ­newcomers alike. The pastel digital illustrations, familiar in style from previous books, gain new warmth and expansiveness in the larger picture book format. . . . The pacing is just right for story time, with enough repetition and visual humor to support young listeners.
—School Library Journal
Jarvis is the author-illustrator of the Bear and Bird series as well as the picture books Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth; Tropical Terry; Follow Me, Flo!; The Boy with Flowers in His Hair; and Thank You, among others. He is also the illustrator of Pick a Pine Tree, Pick a Pumpkin, and Pick a Perfect Egg, all by Patricia Toht. An animator who has worked as a record jacket designer and an animation director, Jarvis lives in Manchester, England.

Photos

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About

Readers all across the world have fallen in love with Bear and Bird through Jarvis’s young reader series. Now the duo features in their youngest adventure yet!

Cozy, funny, and with heaps of heart, this picture book—a prequel to the internationally successful young reader series—tells a story of first friendship from the beloved creator of The Boy with Flowers in His Hair, winner of the Oscar’s Book Prize.

When Bear arrives at the Woody Woods for the first time, he is looking for a friend. But it seems like all the friends are already taken. Then he meets Bird, who is looking for something, too—the Puffy Fluffy Octopus Cloud! Bear decides to help her look for it, and so begins an unexpected adventure . . . Will they ever find that octopus-shaped cloud? Perhaps they might find something even better!

Awards

  • SELECTION | 2026
    Junior Library Guild Selection

Praise

This gentle ­prequel stands firmly on its own, offering an ­accessible origin story for young fans and ­newcomers alike. The pastel digital illustrations, familiar in style from previous books, gain new warmth and expansiveness in the larger picture book format. . . . The pacing is just right for story time, with enough repetition and visual humor to support young listeners.
—School Library Journal

Author

Jarvis is the author-illustrator of the Bear and Bird series as well as the picture books Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth; Tropical Terry; Follow Me, Flo!; The Boy with Flowers in His Hair; and Thank You, among others. He is also the illustrator of Pick a Pine Tree, Pick a Pumpkin, and Pick a Perfect Egg, all by Patricia Toht. An animator who has worked as a record jacket designer and an animation director, Jarvis lives in Manchester, England.