“These wittily illustrated stories of mishaps, hurt feelings, fondness and friendship have a transporting quality.” Guardian on Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories


Bear and Bird are best friends! And while they don’t always understand each other, they both agree: all they want is to make the other happy. So, when Bird feels poorly, Bear arrives with a backpack of goodies to make her feel better. And when they hang out with Mole – who tells absolutely hilarious jokes! – Bird realizes she doesn’t need to compete for Bear’s attention; that there is lots of laughter to go around...

Full of comic mix-ups and misunderstandings, as well as genuine warmth and affection, these four stories are the third instalment in an irresistibly charming chapter book series from award-winning creator Jarvis.

“Bear and Bird has all the charm and wisdom of Julian Gough and Jim Field’s Rabbit and Bear series … The illustrations are glorious.” Irish Independent on Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories

"Jarvis’s digital drawings, in beautiful colors, have an attractive handmade feel." The New York Times Book Review on Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories
Readers can enjoy lots more Bear and Bird adventures! Look out for:

Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories
Bear and Bird: The Stars and Other Stories
Bear and Bird: The Stick and Other Stories
Bear and Bird: The Cave and Other Stories
Bear and Bird: The Secret and Other Stories
The Cloud: A Bear and Bird picture book

These stories are wonderfully warm with charming illustrations that carry the reader from one story to the next seamlessly. This would be a great book for emerging chapter book readers as well as a great read aloud with many opportunities for class participation (The Dance from story 1, would be a ton of fun) and engagement activities. -- MaryAnn Lopes * MSL Book Review *
This is a wonderful book for littlies to share with an adult or to pore over by themselves at the very start of their reading journey but will also be enjoyed by those a little older who are gaining in confidence and are looking for a solo read. I very much enjoyed it and will be keeping an eye out for further tales of the two friends in the future. * Mrs Sydney's Famous World's Smallest Library *
These wittily illustrated stories of mishaps, hurt feelings, fondness and friendship have a transporting quality, ideal for 5+ * Guardian *

Jarvis studied Graphic Design and previously worked as a record sleeve designer, website designer and an animation director before becoming a children’s bookmaker. His titles with Walker Books include Bear and Bird, an illustrated fiction series that follows the funny mix-ups and comic misunderstandings between a pair of best friends. The first of six titles, Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories, was the Indie Book of the Month on release and has been published into 15 different territories. His picture books include Follow Me, Flo!, Tropical Terry, Mrs Mole, I’m Home!, Thank You, The Boy with Flowers in His Hair, which won the 2023 Oscar’s Book Prize and the Indies Book Prize, and Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth, which won the V&A Best Illustrated Book. He is also the illustrator of the much-loved Pick a Pine Tree, Pick a Pumpkin and Pick a Perfect Egg series written by Patricia Toht. His titles have over sold 1.6 million copies worldwide and have been published into over 25 languages. Jarvis lives in Manchester with his wife and their dog Milo. Follow him on Instagram as @booksbyjarvis.