Old Bear Stories by Jane Hissey | Goodreads
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Old Bear Stories

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A beautifully-illustrated classic picture book treasury from popular author-illustrator Jane Hissey featuring five of her most-loved stories.
Where have Little Bear’s missing red trousers gone?
Can the toys rescue Old Bear from the attic?
Will Jolly Tall ever get to see winter snowf lakes?
And just what is inside the mysterious box in the playroom?
This hardback gift edition consists of Old Bear, Little Bear’s Trousers, Little Bear Lost, Jolly Tall and Jolly Snow and is perfect for bedtime reading.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1995

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About the author

Jane Hissey

115 books69 followers

Recognized in both publishing and TV, Jane Hissey is best known for her children’s book series Old Bear & Friends. First published in 1986, it later became the inspiration for BAFTA award winning TV series Old Bear Stories.

As a child growing up in Norfolk, Jane developed a love for writing and drawing. Her holidays were spent wandering fields and lanes, conjuring up fantastical worlds with pencil and sketchbook. When she wasn’t doing this she would spend days at a time sitting in her favorite tree, reading the likes of Arthur Ransome and Enid Blyton.

Jane continued to nurture her passion through adulthood and studied illustration and design, later becoming an Art teacher and settling down with her husband Ivan and their 3 children Owen, Alison & Ralph. Inspired by a childhood teddy bear given to her by her grandmother, Jane has written and illustrated more than 20 picture books featuring Old Bear.

Her tales of adventure and discovery are both heartwarming and fun, captivating the imaginations of children and adults alike. Her illustrations are unique, using layers of colour pencil to build a more full & finely detailed finished image.

The Old Bear & Friends series has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide!

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5 stars
66 (78%)
4 stars
15 (17%)
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2 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah Elizabeth.
4,780 reviews1,352 followers
October 8, 2012
(Source: I won a copy of this book through the Goodreads 'First Reads' programme. Thanks to the author Jane Hissey.)

This is really a beautiful childrens book. Breakfast was forgotten as soon as this book arrived and I really couldn't get my son away from it!
The book is full colour throughout with beautiful illustrations, and stories that your kids will love.
This definitely gets a big thumbs up from me, and I intend to keep this book as neat as possible so that it will last a long time.
Really gorgeous children book! Thanks so much to Jane Hissey!
Profile Image for Bethany.
6 reviews
September 22, 2012
Simply beautiful! I have loved the Old Bear books since I first read them as a child and it is great to see them being re-released for a new generation. This collection contains five wonderful stories complete with gorgeous illustrations. I highly recommend the collection.
I won this book through the ‘First Reads’ scheme – thank you, I adore it!
Profile Image for Dayana.
37 reviews
December 2, 2014
I won a copy of this book through the Goodreads 'First Reads'. I want to say thank you to Goodreads First Reads and the author for selecting me as one of the winners in this book giveaway. The illustrations were perfect and understandable to little children. Each page of text was supported with a illustration which helps enermously the child to image what the adult is reading.
Profile Image for Sandra.
54 reviews1 follower
Want to read
September 28, 2012
Thank you so much for sending me these books. My daughter had them as paperbacks when she was little and loved them-spent many happy evenings reading them to her, now I look forward to reading them to my grandchildren, such lovely pics as well.
Profile Image for Sam Brattle.
64 reviews3 followers
October 2, 2012
Both me and my sister read and loved the old bear books when we were younger and we still have a special place for them in our hearts.
1,036 reviews5 followers
February 26, 2024
Five utterly enchanting stories, with glorious, heartwarming illustrations. Old Bear, Little Bear's Trousers, Little Bear Lost, Jolly Tall and Jolly Lost are all timeless tales, where Jane Hissey has taken beautiful kernels of childhood - reaching out to lonely friends; solving problems over and over again till you get the job done; the fun of hide-and-seek and picnics; the wonder of snow; the love and joy of friendship.
Bramwell Brown, Old Bear, Little Bear, Duck and Rabbit are the main friends, with Jolly (Tall) the Giraffe joining them, plus other dear toys in the playroom - Zebra, Sailor, and Camel. Dog and Cat are there, too.
These stories and wondrous illustrations are so lovingly crafted, that reading them is a gift.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
239 reviews19 followers
September 8, 2021
There are days when you want to take a trip down memory lane and for me Little Bear’s Trousers and Jolly Snow are pure childhood. I’m so happy these stories have stood the test of time, not just the two tales that I have such strong nostalgia for, but all five in the collection. Beautiful expressive illustrations and lovely stories that bring a smile. You just can’t go wrong here, this is the bar for charming (I mean, the cake seems to be pre-decorated with trousers, so I have questions, but the traditional teddy cuteness far outweighs one questionable plot point! How can you not laugh over the trousers saga!)
November 28, 2019
It wasn't anybody's birthday, but Bramwell Brown had a feeling that today was going to be a special day. He was sitting on the windowsill with his friends Duck, Rabbit and Little Bear when he suddenly remembered that someone wasn't there who should be. A very long time ago he had seen his good friend Old Bear being packed away in a box. Then he was taken up the ladder, through a trap door and into the attic. The children were being to rough with him and he needed somewhere safe to go for a while. Has he been forgotten, do you think? Bramwell asked his friends. I think he might have been, said Rabbit. i Well. said Little Bear, isn,t it time he came back down with us? The children are older now and would look after him properly. Let,s go and get him! What a marvellous idea! said Bramwell. But how can we rescue him It,s a long way up to the attic and we haven,t got a ladder. We could bulid a tower of bricks,, suggested Little Bear. Rabbit collected all the bricks and the others set about building the tower. It grew very tall, and Little Bear was just putting on the last brick when the tower began to wobble . Look out! he cried as the whole thing came tumbling down. Never mind, said Bramwell, helping Little Bear to his feet. Well, just have to think of some else. LET,S try making ourselUes into a tower , said Duck. Good idea! Bramwell. Little Bear climbed on top of Rabbit,s head and Rabbit hopped onto Duck,s beak. The strethed up as far as they cold, but then Duck opened his beak to say something, Rabbit wobbled, and they all collapsed on top of Brmwekll. Sorry, said Duck, perhaps that wasn,t a very good idea. Not one of your best, replied ramwell from somewhere underneath the heap. I KNOW! said Rabbit. Let,s try bouncing on the bed. Trust you to think of that, said Bramwell, you it,s not allowed.,Rabbit climbed on to the bed and began to bounce up and down. The others johers joined him. They bounced higher and higher but still they couldn,t reach the trap door in the ceiling. DUk began to cry Oh dear,, he sobed. What are we going to do now? We,ll never be able to rescue Old Bear and he,ll be stuck up there getting lonelier and lonelier for ever and ever. We mustn,t give up, said Bramwell firmly. Come on, Little Bear, you,re good at ideas. But Little Bear, had already noticed the plant in the corner of the room. I,ve got it! he cried. I could climd up this plant, swing from the leaves, kick the trap door open and jump in!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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