thank you to netgalley for the audio of pocket Barrel by Catherine Applegate. this is a middle grade that follows a small teddy bear who wants one to a soldier in World War II.

Applegate does a wonderful job of bringing the animal characters to life. Give them fully human qualities such as emotions.

There is a realm where spectacular toys and books exist that were created with such supernatural flair that they created a seed of hope/imagination/possibility that have already and will continue to inspire and shape the world for the better of everyone. Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate has already found its home and own place within that realm. A stray cat named Zephyrina finds her way into the home of a mother and young daughter, and finds so much love there that she only knows how to love and protect them. when Zephyrina begins bringing "love tokens" out of generosity to her human family, they are surprised to find a collection of worn and tattered toys. However, this unique story soon reveals that among those toys, two special bears-- Pocket Bear and Berwon-- have special histories and backgrounds. Along their journey, the entire family and the Second Chances entourage encounter fascinating characters and adventures. Even though I am not a fan of reading through assortments of contractions cleverly tucked into narrative, I still found myself absolutely melting and adoring the sentimentality written into and throughout this book. This is a book for children of all ages, and a book that should be kept just within reach in case of those emergency moments when one needs the comforting reassurance of a stance of text to be read like a favorite letter or poem.

Absolutely phenomenal. True Applegate fashion, I couldn’t put it down and all my feels were out by the end. Wonderful read. I cannot recommend this enough

An absolutely delightful story of a cat, a group of stuffed toys, and a family in need. Young Dasha and her mom are trying to get back on their feet after fleeing war-torn Ukraine. Dasha's father died in the fighting and Dasha was injured. Despite their hardships, Dasha and her mom try to take care of those around them, especially lost and abandoned stuffed animals, usually recovered by their not-s0-friendly cat Zephyrina. Readers will adore the characters, especially Pocket Bear and his newly found friend Berwon, who turns out is one of the very first teddy bears ever made! The book is full of heart, adventure, laughs, and tears. Readers are sure to find it hard to put down! I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages!

I did not expect to love this middle grade fiction as much as I did, mostly because it has a historical/war element, which is usually a struggle for me. However, that did not get in the way of how much I adored this book. If you like stuffed animals, I highly recommend this book (yes, even though it is a children’s chapter book, you can read this book even as an adult!). Think Toy Story but with plushies instead of action figures. Librarians, parents, etc., get ready for this book to be the talk of the town come September. I already pre-ordered a copy for the library!

Pocket Bear is a delightful story about a mother and daughter, their scrappy cat, and several stuffed animals that are hoping for a second chance. The story is told in Zephyrina's (the cat's) point of view, which gives the story a lot of humor and voice. Zephyrina spends her time searching for discarded toys and brings them back to her house. Elizaveta and Dasha fix them up and sell them in their store called Second Chances. I loved this story and look forward to sharing it with the students at my school!

Loved Pocket Bear so much that I'm going to order a copy for my 6yr old nephew and 9 yr old niece!

They have a ton of "stuffies"/stuffed animals. I think it is so awesome that the mother and child in the story rehabilitate stuffed animals and they are donated to new homes (the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured).

Great information about stuffed animals (bears in particular) and good values.

Favorite two paragraphs ...
According to Pocket, stuffed toy bears had already been around for a few years by the time he was made.
Some folks said they were invented in the US, (They were called "teddy bears," after this president guy.)

I'm so thankful to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for approving my request to read Pocket Bear in exchange for an honest review. Several months ago I noticed my niece reading a book by Katherine Applegate, so I wanted to get a flavor for the type of books that she was reading. Very glad that this advance read copy became available! Again, planning to purchase next week when Prime might be free.

Katherine Applegate has done it again with another heartwarming animal story that somehow had me crying over the fate of a teddy bear! When a book really makes me feel somethjng, I call it a "hand over heart" book and this one definitely fit the bill. The historical elements were really interesting as well and had me researching pocket bears after the end of the story. Readers who loved Edward Tulane or Toy Story, will love this one!

In reading Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate, my heart warmed in a way a that no book done in ages. Though this book was written for a younger audience and middle grade readers, the story is one that will touch all ages. From the charming illustrations to the cozy title, I was drawn into Pocket Bear, and once I started reading, I couldn’t put the book down.

When the story begins, we meet Z-cat, a not-so-thieving Robin Hood of cats. Z is also the narrator of this incredible story. She takes us on her adventures as she finds toys for Second Chances, the project created by Elizaveta and her daughter, Dasha, two transplants from the Ukrainian war with their own sad history. The fact that these two take in lost and battered toys with the sole goal of giving them a second chance being loved and at life is a heartwarming story that will appeal to all ages.

Running the show, at least from behind the scenes is Pocket Bear who was found in the house that now rented by Elizaveta and Dasha. Learning about Pocket Bear sent me down a delightful rabbit hole on the whole history of these bears that were often handcrafted by loved ones before sending their soldier off to war. Pocket bears were designed with their eyes a little higher on their head so when a soldier looked down into their pocket, they’d see this sweet little bear gazing up at them.

As the story unfold, we learn about the whole routine- from the moment Z brings a toy into the house to the Deep Freeze, Spa Day, and Probationary period - as Dasha and her mom work to find each lost item a new home. There is so much to say about this incredibly sweet and engaging story, another winner by Katherine Applegate, that you are going to want to add this book to every bookshelf you meet!

“True friends are like stars: always there, even when you can’t see them.”
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Pocket Bear was born during The Great War and was a loyal servant to his soldier, peeking up at him to protect and comfort. Over a century later Pocket now lives at Second Chances, a resale toy shop where toys are refurbished and find their second chance. Zephyrina is their cat who finds toys all over the city and brings them to the mother and daughter owners. One day Zephyrina brings home a tiny bear covered in Italian food that looks slightly beat up, but is of the utmost importance to collectors.
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How does @kaauthor have me in tears over a stuffed animal?! Applegate has just the best gift of connecting readers so deeply to her characters and their stories, making them seem real and now a part of my life forever. Pocket Bear would be a fantastic choice for One Book One School, book clubs or to share with all your MG readers. It releases 9/9!

CW: war (theme), theft, grief, death of a parent (off page), war-related injury

Welcome to Second Chances, a place where toys and stuffed animals have a second chance to be refurbished and loved. Pocket Bear, a bear just the right size to fit in a soldier’s pocket during WW1, runs the show. Zephyrina the cat routinely brings home treasures for Dasha and her mom to refurbish. When Z brings home Berwon from an Italian restaurant’s dumpster, the toys suspect that he could be the first ever teddy bear made! Will Berwon get the second chance that he deserves?

Katherine Applegate does it again. I didn’t think I’d cry over a war-era stuffed bear… and yet here we are.

Pocket Bear is like historical fiction met Toy Story, hugged, and said “let’s make ‘em feel everything.” Told from the perspective of Zephyrina (a trash-diving, chaos-loving cat), this one delivers humor, heart, and the kind of quiet magic Applegate is famous for.

The chapters are short, the pacing flies, and the messages of love, loyalty, and second chances will hit kids and adults right in the feels. I’ll be recommending this one to anyone with a heart, a classroom, or a soft spot for forgotten toys.

Best Applegate novel I have read yet (and I enjoyed many of them). Pocket, Bearwon, and the grouchy/adorable kitty narrator wormed their way quickly into my heart. The human characters were wonderful, too, although not quite as crucial, given that much of this book takes place in the stuffed animal/cat society they have created. However, the villain was amazing (Picky Vicky, great name!!) and at one point I got viscerally angry at her. Such a perfect kids’ book. I loved the way the history was worked in and the theme of war was dealt with. Sigh. Reading this book is a healing experience. We need it more than ever right now. Go buy yourself Pocket Bear and read it to anyone who will listen.

No one but Katherine Applegate could pull this story off. I read this book in a day. The character development and the war connections made this story have an emotional pull to it. It's interesting to think even now as we look at toys during a rummage or antique sale what their stories are.

 I love the voice of Zephyrina the cat - the Robin Hood of felines, the Z-cat, the Kleptocat, who prides herself on being independent and a thief, albeit not the greatest. While Pocket Bear is the title and Pocket Bear watches over all the toys at Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, it is Zephyrina who stole my heart. Elizaveta and Dasha live at 127 A-19th St -which is where the Second Chances Home is. Elizaveta and Dasha have suffered a lot and fled a war in Ukraine. Caring for the toys is helping Dasha recover from the pain. Zephyrina refuses to be petted but happily accepts food from Dasha. Zeph looks out for her owners but won’t admit she wants to be loved. Zeph is not sure why she brings home the teddy bear she uncovered trash bin diving, but this bear, later to be named Bearwon by Dasha, starts the metamorphosis of Zephyrina. Add in a mean and greedy antique dealer, and hearts will melt for the perfect ending.

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours! A young girl sets up second chance home for stuffed animals (usually ones her cat finds and brings home). Having escaped the war in Ukraine, she bonds with a Pocket Bear who she found in her new home. A bear who saw WWI and is now the leader of the toys in the home. When her cat drags home an old bear out of a dumpster (and covered in spaghetti)a new twist to second chances occurs. This story is full of love and heart and the power of second chances.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this WONDERFUL book! I have told so many of my teachers that this is the BEST book for 2025! All readers have a connection to having a special stuffed lovey. Katherine writes a beautiful story on how this bear is special even when he feels he was a failure. So many learning connections in the story, biographies, history, war, friendship, caring and above all LOVE. I read it to my mind so quickly because it was so well written. But as a librarian, I cannot wait to read it aloud to children or suggest it to teachers and my readers. This will be a classic story for years to come.

Well, of course Katherine Applegate has me emotional over two plush bears and a cat. Lol. I won’t repeat what is already available regarding the plot, but I will say that I’m eager to share this with my students as an elementary librarian and that I think this would make the PERFECT bedtime read-aloud especially since the characters are often waking up and going to bed. The antagonist gave me Cruella vibes and I absolutely despised her, and I think young readers will enjoy rooting against her as I did. Beautiful story…highly recommend. :)

I just got a sneak peek at Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate!
This heartfelt story of friendship, resilience, and hope in the most unexpected places has already stolen my heart, and I’m already planning a Fall Book Club around it!

I absolutely adored this book. From the cover art, to the history behind the story, to the cat being the narrator, it was perfect. It is quite precious, beautiful, and just over all leaves you with a good feeling. It feels quite nostalgic as well. That is due to the fact of the story following Pocket Bear from the WWII era, but also the illustrations. It reminded me of all the classics I grew up reading; simple pencil type sketches that capture the moment but leave a bit to your own imagination. Absolutely recommend.