Pocket Bear
Katherine Applegate
Readers rate it 4.5 (2 on Hardcover)
- Published
- 2025
Content report card
What's inside
Violence
Fighting, weapons, death
Language
Swearing, crude humor
Sexual content
Romance intensity, nudity
LGBTQ+ themes
Presence of characters or themes
Scary or mature
Horror, trauma, heavy themes
Substance use
Alcohol, drugs, smoking
What it offers
Positive messages
Kindness, courage, honesty, resilience
Positive role models
Characters who model good judgment and growth
Educational value
History, science, culture, how the world works
A note for parents
Pocket Bear is a gentle, heartwarming story about second chances and kindness from Katherine Applegate, author of the beloved The One and Only Ivan. While the book is set partly during WWI and involves a soldier's pocket bear, the violence is historical context rather than graphic or central to the plot. The story emphasizes compassion, loyalty, and finding worth in things others have discarded, making it ideal for children who enjoy emotionally resonant animal stories.
Analyzed by AI · 1 hour ago
Parent age guide
Is “Pocket Bear” right for your kid?
Ready from about age 7.
From about 6, okay with a grown-up nearby.
For younger readers
- Suggested for ages 7+.
Based on this book's content report card and typical guidance by age. You know your reader best.
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From the publisher
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... 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.
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
ISBN 9781250904362 · Feiwel & Friends