Applegate has done it again!! I love how this author takes serious topics and makes them so relatable and understandable for the age group. This is the story of a cat who finds lost toys and brings them to her family, who are refugees from Ukraine. We follow the story of a cat who finds toys and brings them home, hoping to find a second chance at a family. This story is one that I think many children will find so comforting I definetly see myself reading this one with my oldest when she gets bigger. I found this book so heartwarming. I cannot wait to see what Applegate puts out next!

What about this book wasn't good? i LOVED it! I want to read it to my children. it was so sweet and hopeful. I really thought with a book about a wartime bear id be bawling! However, I only teared up from how amazing it was.

Pocket and Berwin's story was so impactful. Thats the only way to describe it. Everyone was a memorable character. Dasha with her loving heart was ine of my favorites. She has the heart of anyone who wants a better world and is willing to chip away at making a small dent of good. Z was the blessing The Second Chance Toys needed, but didn't appreciate. Just watching Z grow into who she needed to be was incredible.

I will remember this story and pass it down to my kids as soon as I can get a copy.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Katherine Applegate is one of my favorite writers of juvenile fiction. Pocket Bear is an absolute delightful read that I can’t wait to share with my students! This hit me right in the feels!

I really didn't know what to expect going into this book, I just saw Katherine Applegate and immediately requested it.

This book has much more heart that I thought there would be, and I actually welled up a few times. I adored Pocket and every other stuffed animal, as well with Zeph; she was great.

This book felt like a warm hug and I highly recommend it!

A wonderful tale of a very small toy bear crafted with love and passed on through surprising events until needed to serve as a great comfort after being rescued and refurbished with love and taken to heart.
Pub Date Sep 09, 2025, Middle Grade Fiction #Chapterbook
The illustrations by Charles Santoso are delightful, imaginative, clear, and simple.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, and even to a school or teacher or your public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected electronic galley from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends via NetGalley. ***** #review #goodreads #bookbub @librarythingofficial #storygraph
#PocketBear by Katherine Applegate @kaaauthor illustrated by @charlessantoso @macmillankidsuk #FeiwelandFriends @macmillanusa #NetGalley #bravery #loyalty #kindness #goodlucktotem
#middlegradefiction #kidlit #illustrated #storygraph @librarythingofficial #Parenting #family #exploration @childrensbookcouncil #BooksForKids #ChildrensBooks #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #indiebookstoresca #comfortingbear

This charming story will appeal to lovers of teddy bears and those who loved "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane". Pocket Bear is exactly what he sounds like: a pocket sized bear that was created to keep a soldier company during WWI. He is the leader of all of the abandoned stuffies that Zephyrina the cat "steals" and brings home. When Z brings home her latest prize from a heist, the world they all knew may be shaken up.

This heart warming story tugs on your heart strings throughout and keeps you cheering for the stuffies as well as the people in the home. A great read for anyone, but perfect for grades 3-5.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC copy of Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate. My son and I have loved Katherine Applegate's books from The One and Only Ivan, to Crenshaw and the Wishtree, we've enjoyed every book we've read by her and this was no exception. This book was on target for a middle grade. The main characters, Pocket and Zephyrina, are delightful. They live in the Second Chances Home of Tossed and Treasured, which is the home of Dasha and her mother, and is a place where left-behind and tossed aside stuffies get a second chance to find a loving home. This book had tons of heart and is filling with loving, supportive friendships, and kindness. I'm so glad I had a chance to read it. An easy 5-stars for me!

I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends through NetGalley.
Applegate has such a gentle touch with her characters. She makes readers feel they are at the Second Chance home with Dasha and her mom, Elizaveta. Though Applegate shares their backstory, she focuses on the present where they are safe after leaving a war torn country. We also meet a cat, Zephyrina (Z), who lives with Dasha and Elizaveta but keeps their distance. The cat is the one who finds toys and brings them home. This is how Pocket Bear arrived and he is the one in charge of all the other toys. They come alive every evening after the humans are asleep. Z learns so much from this bear and helps with the others as needed. When Z brings home another old bear, Pocket figures out how valuable Berwon is. I love the way Applegate plays with a possible historical event and brings this bear into the family. Of course, there is a character with nasty motives to balance the good and Z works hard to defeat her.
A charming story for mid elementary and older readers. The short chapters will appeal and the illustrations bring the characters to life. I'm always delighted to see where Applegate's imagination will take all of us next.

My thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Katherine Applegate for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review.

This is my first time trying a book by Katherine Applegate but it won't be the last. I'll be buying a copy of this book and reading it to my kids. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to try this book. Truth be told, I saw the artwork for the cover, read that the synopsis had a cat as a character and made my decision then and there to try reading this. At the time, my own cat was having health problems and I thought reading a sweet book about a cat would help. It gave me great comfort to read this and I hope my kids love it one day soon.

Pocket Bear is about a a small stuffed toy bear, named you guessed it, Pocket Bear, who has an interesting history. Pocket Bear was hand-made during World War I, designed in a way so that he could fit in a soldier's pocket and seem like he was gazing up into his soldier's face. These bears were meant to provide luck and love for their owners. Nowadays, Pocket Bear runs a home for giving other lost and thrown away stuffed animals a second chance at finding a new child to love them. He runs the place with his cat best friend, Zephyrina, who goes out at night to scavenge for food and lost toys to take home. When Zephyrina finds a teddy bear in a restaurant trash can and decides to bring it back home, it sets in motion a story about finding comfort, love and family where you least expect it.

This was a sweet story, told from Zephyrina's point of view, and I have to say Applegate nails the cat attitude perfectly. I loved the sass, the reasonings behind what Zephyrina chose to do or the moves to make. I could see the calculations that went into showing how a cat really fits into a family and how Zephyrina's choices proved that cats are intelligent and loving creatures. I believed the friendship between Zephyrina and Pocket from page 1 and I loved every moment of their sweet story together.

I thought Pocket was tragic but I understood the hope he stood for, the love that went into the making of him. I'm not a fan of stuffed bears but I recently made an amigurumi stuffed bear for a family member for their new baby. I worked hard on putting everything together into a whole toy that I hope will bring comfort to the baby when they are old enough to keep it with them when they sleep. With that in my head, each interaction with Pocket and Dasha, the child who runs the Second Chance home for toys with her mother, Elizaveta, tugged at the heartstrings just a little bit more. I also learned a lot about the history of stuffed bears that I had never heard of before. That history lends this book a feeling of maturity that I can respect as this allows for the reader to learn and grow and think with every new situation that comes up in this adventure. I love when a book treats its reader like they are smart without talking down to them. This is the kind of book I want my kids to read and enjoy but will also allow them to ask me questions about the wars mentioned and the effects they have on families. It's a great book with ideas that can make kids think and consider things in different ways than they had before and that makes it a very respectable read.

I should also add that I too have several shelves where my childhood stuffed toys are kept safe so that also endeared me to this story. And my cat that I mentioned earlier had his own tiny stuffed toy, a snowman, that he loved to bits and took with him everywhere until it was misplaced. All this to say that if you had anything like a stuffed toy when you were a kid, this story will make you remember them again and think about who they might have been once upon a time. It also makes me think about the stuffed friends I'm giving to my kids and how I hope they feel love and comfort and magic when they have their toys with them. My kid calls all of his stuffed animals his friends and after reading this book, I can believe in that just a little bit more. It's a magical tale filled with hope, which makes it the best kind of kids book, in my opinion.

Rating on my scale: I'm giving this 10 stars and pulling out my stuffed puppy I've had for almost 30 years and giving him a hug. My puppy has been sitting on my baby recliner for the last 3 years but after reading this book, it's high time he takes his place by my pillow again. You're never too old to appreciate the effects of a well-loved stuffed animal, after all.

First sentence: The sign posted outside my lair read: OUR CAT IS A BURGLAR. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES. Its very existence vexed like a tick in my tail. "OUR" implied ownership. But a feline can never be owned. Admired from afar, perhaps. Never owned. "CAT" brought to mind a spoiled, mewling ball of fluff. But I am not a mere cat. I am a tiger trapped in a kitty costume. I am pure stealth and sinew and swagger. I've lived nine lives and dozens more. And as for "BURGLAR"? Burglars merely burgled. I redistribute. I recycle. I rescue. I am the Robin Hood of felines, a force for good. I am Zephyrina, honorable thief.

Premise/plot: Zephyrina, our narrator, is a cat who 'rescues' unwanted toys and brings them to a new home to be given second chances. Pocket Bear, the oldest resident, is a bear who has SEEN and HEARD just about everything--he has been around since the first world war. The other toys come and go--as new chances bring new homes, new owners, and new opportunities for toys. But Pocket Bear and Zephyrina have a good thing going, right, a forever thing. She brings the toys and Pocket Bear leads them all.

The book opens with Zephyrina's newest discovery: Berwon. Berwon may just be as old as Pocket Bear. This extremely super special rare bear may just be the salvation for the owners of the shop--Elizaveta and Dasha. But at what cost? Every toy deserves a happy ending, right?!

My thoughts: Katherine Applegate's newest book is a fantasy novel for young readers. Toys and animals are brought to life. I loved, loved, loved the narration of Zephyrina. I loved the stories of Berwon and Pocket Bear. It had plenty of adventure! There were villains and heroes. It was a satisfying, compelling read!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

I absolutely loved this one. I loved the characters and overall feel of the setting. The characters were well developed and fleshed out. I loved how the characters changed. The ending of this book was beautifully done and very touching. I love how Applegate touched on topics of war and grief. The illustrations were beautifully done. This is going to be a favorite that I think back upon.

What a delightful story! Pocket Bear is a sweet tale of a mom and daughter who rescue and gently care for lost stuffed animals. At night, the stuffed animals come to life, and it's so entertaining. I can't forget their friend, the cat. He's a hoot. The story dips into the history of the teddy bear as it tells a lovely story of hope. I will be buying a copy for my granddaughter. I received a free copy, and opinions are my own.

Katherine Applegate has given readers of all ages a book that touches your heart. She has written a book that has a unique way of reaching children and adults and telling a story about history, friendship, and so much more will be on many bookshelves to enjoy for years to come.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Applegate and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the book Pocket Bear. This is my personal review.

Pocket Bear is an emotional read about second chances with some extra special characters.
Plus, who doesn't want some insight into the world of toys and the minds of cats!
As always, Charles Santoso makes the artwork come alive and makes sure you can see the cuteness and lovability of the characters.
I love the way it ties in the history of toys and the concept of the pocket bear being used for soldiers.
Overall, its a rich story that I'm glad to be able to add to my library collection and to be able to recommend to staff and students.

Another winner from Katherine Applegate! You will fall in love with the characters in Pocket Bear. Filled with rich vocabulary, a little history, and lots of heart, this book is must buy for any elementary librarian. Fans of Applegate's One and Only Ivan will enjoy this as well.

POCKET BEAR by Katherine Applegate

I did not know of mascot bears (also called soldier bears or pocket bears) of WWI, little reminders of home and loved ones. This is a delightful story of teamwork and courage, toys restored at Tossed and Treasured, of doing the best one can and standing up to unscrupulous bullies and daring to make friends, told by Zephyrina, Kleptocat extraordinaire. It’s also a gentle warning insight into war, “when a bomb goes off, everybody is scared and wants someone to hold on to.”
This is a chapter book, but it does have lovely illustrations as well, and would reward a young reader’s efforts and hold interest well. IMHO, one is never too old for a book, and I found this a perfect one to read after the rougher, but in some ways similar, THE SHAPE OF WATER.
The Author’s Notes contained heartening information, a real company called “Loved Before” that refurbishes stuffed toys for new homes — I can’t help wondering if they use hibernation in a freezer followed by a “spa day” on their second chance toys.

I can see this book being read to third and fourth graders. I can see them suddenly falling in love with Pocket Bear and I can see their curiosity coming alive as they learn about Pocket Bear's history as well as Berwon's story. Pocket bears were carried during World War I, in their soldiers' pockets. The eyes were positioned so the bears look upwards, so they could be a comfort to their soldiers.

Moving to present day, our hero cat, Zephyrina, returns home one night to Second Chances, clutching a much larger stuffed bear who she rescued from a dumpster. Covered in spaghetti sauce and parsley and other things not named, this stuffed bear is a real mess. Elizaveta and her daughter, Dasha, immigrants from war-torn Ukraine, know how to clean up these poor bedraggled stuffies. Pocket Bear, who lives a typical stuffed toy life during the day, becomes the leader of the pack at midnight when all the stuffies come to life for a few brief hours. Pocket Bear taught himself to read and he recognizes the large stuffed bear, Berwon, as something extra special.

Every story needs a villain and Applegate has provided the perfect villain, Picky Vicky, a toy collector who sets out to steal Berwon. Zephyrina, taking many chances and in danger of using up several of her nine lives, steps into the position of hero and saves the day. We also meet John, a toy museum director. (Children might be surprised to know there are toy museums and museums geared to the interests of children.)

The story is written in very short chapters, and there are a number of black and white drawings. While we are told Dasha uses crutches because she lost her leg in a bombing in Ukraine, the story does not describe the injury nor dwell on the war.

Pocket Bear is an astounding bear and in charge of all the second-hand toys at the Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured. Pocket Bear is over 100 years old and is a small hand-sewn bear that was put in the pocket of a soldier's uniform to give him comfort. When a new bear joins the group, a new adventure unfolds. It is a great story about how everyone deserves second chances. This would be great in an upper elementary or even middle school class to be used when studying World War 1. It also covers topics such as vintage toys, theft, love, loyalty, friendship, and hope.

True friends are like stars: always there, even when you can’t see them” Pocket Bear is a beautifully crafted story that captures the imagination. Katherine Applegate has woven yet another timeless tale that will resonate with readers for generations.
The novel's short chapters are perfect for young readers, making it accessible and engaging. This enchanting story not only teaches important lessons from history but also explores themes of friendship and courage. The bond between Pocket and Spaghetti, built on second chances, is a testament to the power of true friendship.
I sincerely hope we can look forward to more adventures with them at the museum.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate
📚 Middle Grade | 🐻 Releases September 9, 2025

I flew through Pocket Bear in just two days and absolutely loved it. Even though it’s middle grade and I’m in my 20s, this story pulled me in with its warmth, creativity, and heart.

This book gave me Toy Story vibes in the best way: stuffed animals that come alive when no one’s watching, but with more heart and history. Pocket was literally sewn during WWI to comfort soldiers, and now, over a century later, he’s helping forgotten toys find new homes at the Second Chances shop.

It’s imaginative, emotional, and filled with kindness. If you’re soft for stories about bravery, friendship, and second chances this one’s worth reading, no matter your age.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC

All opinions are my own In exchange for a honest review