Hilarious quick read with adorable illustrations and a very funny story line with cute writing. Will be purchasing for our library.

This was a cute book with clever rhymes that include bright, funny, illustrations. The repetitive rhymes are perfect for early readers as are the vivid illustrations throughout the book. It’s sure to get lots of laughs from small children. The book flows well and goes beyond your typical easy reader books. It’s a book kids will be coming back to at story time!

A charming and humorous picture book that had my daughter laughing from page one. Despite its minimal text, the story is told beautifully through expressive, detailed illustrations that guide young readers effortlessly. The visual pacing and humor make this an excellent choice for early readers and read-aloud time. A delightful blend of simplicity and storytelling through art.

A delightful rhythmic story of great fun with the donut van, a bear, the man who drives the van, and MOOSE!
The illustrations by Brandon James Scott are complex, very imaginative, and lively in bright colors.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected review galley on PDF from Astra Publishing House | Hippo Park via NetGalley. Pub Date Feb 03, 2026
#ABearaManandaDonutVan by #DanielBernstrom illustrated by @brandonjamesscott #NetGalley @astrapublishinghouse @hippoparkbooks #bookbub #goodreads #storygraph @librarythingofficial #storytelling #illustration #kidlit #kidlitart @childrensbookcouncil #storytelling #picturebook

This is a simple, funny, and cute book. The illustrations are so fun, and I can imagine my preschooler laughing at the silliness of this adventure of the bear and donut man. The progression of the story is deliberate enough that my son can be invited into guessing what will happen next. I am excited to read this book with my son. 
Thank you to NetGalley for this book.

A Bear, A Man, and a Donut Van is definitely a great book to read with your little one. The illustrations are beautiful and the rhymes are so fun. Children will love the humorous story! I would highly, highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital ARC.

Cute and silly read about a bear who wants a snack.

Loved the rhyming. Loved the humor. Loved the illustrations.

Great read aloud!

While the words are simple, this was such a fun story. The illustrations added to the hilarity. I wonder what the bear will get up to next?

We love this series! My 4 year old was so excited to read the new Bear book. We all thought this story was funny. Also loved the illustrations.

A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van is a hilarious fun story exactly as the title suggests. It starts with a bear climbing into the back of a man's donut van. Of course, chaos ensues as the van goes off course. Lots of donuts are consumed and a herd of moose cause a traffic jam. My kids and I laughed out loud at the poor man and bear!
The illustrations work perfectly with the story!
Thank you to Netgalley and Astra Publishing House | Hippo Park for an early release copy of this book!
A Bear, a Man, and a Donut Van releases February 3rd, 2026-mark your calendar!

My 5 year old son loved this! It was hilarious and so fun to read aloud. We both couldn't stop laughing and we enjoyed the illustrations. The story follows a hilariously single-minded bear who, in his pursuit of a delicious snack, stows away in a donut man's van. The resulting chase is a comedy of errors that fit together so well. The pacing is fantastic, building excitement with every turn of the page until the messy end.

I absolutely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It is so much fun, and full of silly mishaps. I know my students will enjoy this whimsical tale. I loved the illustrations, so cute! I will be recommending this to all of my fellow educators.

ARC Review: A Bear, A Man, and a Donut Van 🍩🐻🚐

Mom’s Take:
This book was golden! I picked it on impulse because I drawn in by the quirky title and playful cover....and I’m so glad I did. With just a few words per page, the story lets the artwork be the star! The visuals are vibrant, hilarious, and emotionally expressive, making it the perfect read-aloud for early readers. My twins (who are just starting to read) weren’t intimidated they wanted to help me read, and they could! We took turns reading, giggling, and shouting out plot twists. (“There’s a bear in the backseat!” was a moment.) The pacing kept them engaged, the humor landed, and the confidence boost was real.

We’ve read it several times now, and it still fun for them. The very last page, where all the animals are snacking on donuts......is their absolute favorite. It’s become a game: “Where’s another friend snacking on a donut?” They flip through, spot new details, and laugh every time. This book makes reading feel like play.

Twins’ Take:
They LOVED it. The bear was funny. The man was clueless. The van crash? Iconic. They were fully invested, laughing out loud and flipping pages to see what happened next. The colors were a hit, the bear was their favorite, and that final donut feast? Legendary. They’ve already asked to read it again (and again).

Final Verdict:
Perfect for read-alouds, early readers, and families who love a little chaos with their donuts. I’ll be buying a copy the moment it drops. Shelf-worthy and storytime-approved.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are voluntary and my own. Thanks Netgalley!

This book made me giggle. I love how it was repetitive. The illustrations were great! This is just a fun book that I think would be a big hit!

This was a beautiful looking book with a fun and simple story. I loved the illustrations!

I would recommend this book for all ages.

My kindergarten students love this series and this will be no different. A delightful read loud full of fun!