This was too cute. Teddy bears picnic is one of my favourite childhood stories/songs and this was such a great spin. Loved to read this to sons bd then share the original love I had for teddy bears picnic as well.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A cute story about a little girl's teddy bear. The pictures are cute and fit well with the story. The text flows well.

Teddy bear of the year is a sweet story about a bear that learns about being kind.
The illustrations are beautiful and my daughter enjoyed reading it.

A very cute little story, suitable for bedtime, about how teddy bears need to know their ABC's. 'Always Be Cuddling'. This little phrase is Teddy Bear 101. Vikki VanSickle has just enough text and lovely full illustrated pages to make it quite well-balanced. Although there was one problem... there is a koala bear at the big Teddy Bear Awards event ! Unlike panda bear's, koalas are not really bears. All I can imagine is a child who knows this getting struck on the inclusion of a koala (perhaps to their parent(s) annoyance, lol). But I suppose this oversight can be ignored given that there is an obvious attempt (and success) to show diversity among the teddy bears themselves.
I really liked how the teddy bears were obviously 'on the job' for their human counterparts and that it was about the bears being brave, loving (by cuddling of course) and attentive. Funny, these tend to be the same traits we desire in children (how clever). This is a solid story that could be bought for any child. If you need a 'generic' kids gift that could go to any child or toddler this is a perfect pick as it doesn't lean in any direction except that kindness (and cuddling) are good things; and I have to hope that everyone in the world would agree with this sentiment.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

In this story, Ollie is Amena’s teddy bear. One night, he is invited to a teddy bear picnic by the Teddy Bear Association. Various awards were handed out to the teddy bears for accomplishments they had done throughout the year.

This was an adorable story. It’s so cute to imagine all the teddy bears of the world gathering to have a picnic together. The teddy bears also have the rule of ABCs: Always Be Cuddling.

This story made me smile throughout it. It is such a sweet story. I loved it!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Teddy Bear Of The Year is a cute book that parents will love reading to their children as much as the kids will love hearing it. I think it will become a classic choice for children and parents.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is an amazing children's book! If your child likes teddy bears they will love Teddy Bear of the Year. Cute, entertaining, easy to read.........Enjoy! 📚

Ollie is a teddy bear that is whisked away to a Teddy Bear Picnic late one night. There he meets all the VIBs (Very Important Bears) and veteran teddy bear "The Snug." During the award ceremony, Ollie sees all the amazing accomplishments of his fellow teddy bears, and begins to feel like he may just be an ordinary bear.

This book is very cute and has a lot of humor that adults can appreciate. Will a child get the "Nine to Five" reference? Probably not, but their parents will.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cute book about stuffed bears sneaking off one night for the yearly Teddy Bear picnic.

All of the Teddy Bears are celebrated for the cuddling and comfort they provide when their child is sick, lonely or just in need of a hug. The story is cute and will remind adults of company awards ceremonies. The illustrations (disclaimer: many of the illustrations did not download so my opinion is based upon only those that did) are pretty. The colors are muted which makes this a relaxing bedtime story.

Highly recommended.


I received an ARC from Penguin Random House: Tundra Books through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Ollie is a teddy-bear who loves his little girl, Amena. He is there for her always, and he never misses his chance for a cuddle with his favorite girl.

In Vikki VanSickle's new picture book, Teddy Bear of the Year, Ollie gets a huge surprise when a magical ship arrives for him just outside of Amena's bedroom. Inside the ship, there is another teddy bear. He introduces himself as Snuggles, aka The Snug.

The Snug tells Ollie that every year there is a Teddy Bears' Picnic, and it is his job to pick up the newest teddy bears. That is why he is here to fetch Ollie.

Ollie agrees to join The Snug, but first, he leaves his beloved Amena with one last snuggle.

At the Teddy Bears' Picnic, Ollie has a wonderful time. He meets lots of new friends, plays fun games, and even gets to try the delicious honey tarts.

To end the celebration, The Teddy Bears' Association holds an award ceremony for the best teddy bears of the year. Ollie is amazed at the bravery all his fellow bears have shown for their kids, and he wishes he could be like some of them.

To Ollie's utmost surprise, the award for Teddy Bear of the Year goes to .... him! He is shocked and honored to be viewed as a teddy who always knows exactly how to cuddle his kid.

You and your little ones are sure to love this sweet picture book. Ollie is a character that you will instantly love. He is humble, gentle, and he wants only what is best for his Amena.

In addition to a beautiful story, the illustrations are soft and match the story perfectly. I thought the combination of Vikki Vansickle's characters and Sydney Hanson's illustration was a match made in heaven!

Cute teddy bear picture book. My five year old loved it and found it super entertaining and exciting. He would love to read more by Vikki in the future.

Nawhh this was so cute. Definitely a great picture book for every child.

Writing: The story was well written and the sentences flowed together nicely. The short sentences will make sure children can read along with their parents without to much difficulty.

Story: There was a lot of fun stuffed into 40 pages. A big teddy bear party, who doesn't want to be part of that?! And teddies who get prizes for their great deeds, such a great idea. Really enjoyed the story and I'm sure every child will too.

Illustration: The art was very cute. It had a bit of a vintage feel to it and was very magical. The artist did great work with it.

This is one of those stories parents won't mind reading over and over. It is so very cute. This lovely children's book gets 3 stars from me.

Teddy Bear of the Year is a very cute book about the value of caring for one another. Children can learn from the book that every act of care, major or minor, is important and valued.

This is an adoreable little book. My grandaughter and I thoroughly enjoyed this story and when we finished reading it my grandaughter asked me to read it again and again. It seems my little grandaughter was very enchanted with the little bear in the story. We loved it.

This sweet book is told through the eyes of an adorable little teddy bear named Ollie. He is a devoted little guy who loves his owner Amena dearly. He faithfully is there for her whenever she needs him and loves belonging to her alone.

One night as they are cuddling beside each other in bed a large ship arrives outside her bedroom window captained by an old seasoned teddy named Snuggles... The Snug for short. He invites Ollie abroad and together they sail off to a fairy-tale-like setting that is located deep in the woods. Ollie attends his first-ever teddy bear's picnic.

He meets new friends of different shapes and sizes, eats delicious sweets, competes in a three-legged race and sings bearaoke. How fun is that?

After all the playful activities subside a ceremony occurs rewarding stars to those bears who deserve recognition for "excellence in teddy-care." Ollie, although happy for those rewarded, believes that he is unworthy of receiving a coveted star for himself. He thinks he has accomplished very little of significance to receive one. Do you think he is wrong and perhaps all the kind things he does for Amena each day just might qualify him for a star too?

The illustrations are wonderful. They are created with a soft, muted pallet and have a dreamlike affect. The positive message of being rewarded for acts of kindness is so well needed these days not only for cuddly teddy bears but for humans as well. I highly recommend this book.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

What a delightful story about a little bear who doesn't think he is or has done anything special when he hears the tales of other bears at an award ceremony. But when he receives an award and learns why he has received it, he realises that simple, everyday things we do that are comforting and are acts of kindness we may not even realise we do, are very important and deserving too.
The artwork is really cute and detailed and I lived every page.

Teddy Bear Of The Year by Vikki VanSickle is a sweet story of a teddy bears picnic. My two year old niece loved it.

This is a darling little book about a teddy bear named Ollie who is always close to his little girl. He is there when she tells him the stories of what she has been up to all day, he is there when she comes home from school, the usual teddy bear activities.

This was an EARC and it was difficult to read because the shading in the copy sometimes made the words hard to read and the pictures sometimes preceded the corresponding words.

That said, I still loved this book. I didn't have my 3 y/o granddaughter around to read it to and I'm sure she would have had a hard time reading this copy. I love the simple message that this story tells, that even a smile or small act of kindness is a great thing, that you don't have to be the biggest or bravest to make a difference. I thought the idea of the magical boat that takes Ollie away to the teddy bears picnic was a great idea and all of the activities that mimicked what children would do at a party, the games, the treats. The award ceremony was very special and Ollie was feeling very small until he ended up with the "teddy bear of the year" award for his consistent acts of kindness and always being there for his little girl.

I thought the writing was especially good for a picture book for young children, I'm so tired of the rhyming words, constant animal stories doing children's things, and really just silly books that I hate to have to read. I I think this one is special and I applaud the writer for a book that sends a clear message about friendship and kindness.

In spite of the condition of the EARC I'm going to give this one 5 stars because this is one story that I wouldn't mind reading again and again to my grandchildren. I will definitely be purchasing a copy when it publishes in January.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this great little book.

This book is set to publish on January 21.

I will post a review to Amazon upon publication.

This was such a sweet and unique book about the job of a teddy bear. Ollie is invited to go to the Teddy Bear picnic overnight. Here he meets several bears that have done great deeds and he feels small compared to them. Great book and illustrations too.

ARC Copy...I thought it was cute and warm in regards to the wold building involving the teddys. Who wouldn't be curious about the secret lives of plush friends? The illustrations certainly do carry out the warm-dreamy feel. The simple message of simple kindness is also warm too!