Stories for Growing
Cover of Bear Says ThanksAges 3 to 7
GratitudeGenerosity

Bear Says Thanks

Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

Ages 3 to 7
About this age guidance

Kirkus: 3–7; Publishers Weekly: 3–7

The age tag follows Kirkus review. Other sources may suggest different ages. This is audience guidance, not an independent reading level.

Included in a librarian’s gratitude read-alouds for preschool and kindergarten. She says Bear wants to feast but his cupboard is empty, and each friend brings food while he worries he has nothing to give.

Bear plans a feast for his friends but finds nothing to eat. One by one his friends arrive with food, and Bear thanks each of them. He is embarrassed to have nothing to give back, but his friends tell him that his company and stories are what they want, and they feast together.

Good forSaying thank you

Recommended by Children’s Library Lady

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What children see in the story

Bear thanks each friend as they arrive, feels how much their gifts mean to him, and the friends answer by saying they are glad to have him. Bear’s cupboards are empty, and his friends each bring something from their own food so the party can happen.

Why it’s on these shelves

Gratitude
Bear’s cupboard is empty, but his friends arrive one by one with food, and Bear thanks each one. When he feels bad about having nothing to give, they tell him his company is enough. Then everyone sits down to eat together.
Generosity
When Bear plans a feast with nothing in his cave, Mouse, Hare, Badger and the birds each show up with food. Their gifts turn his empty table into a party for everyone.

Why pick it up?

Bear gets his party and learns that his friends already value him. The meal is shared and happy.

A note for parents

An empty cupboard is the plot trigger, but the story treats it lightly and food arrives at once. Part of a long series (Bear Snores On and others); it stands alone. PW says it nods to Thanksgiving without being a holiday book. Bear says thanks every time through a repeated line, which suits ages 3 to 5 reading along.

Where this recommendation comes from

Children’s Library Lady

Included in a librarian’s gratitude read-alouds for preschool and kindergarten. She says Bear wants to feast but his cupboard is empty, and each friend brings food while he worries he has nothing to give.

Read Children’s Library Lady’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

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