Bear

Bear is a creature of simple pleasures. A warm bench. A crisp cookie. A balloon, a book, and the serenity of a quiet afternoon. But when visitors begin to arrive—Fox wanting a seat, Wolf reaching for the cookie, Rabbit peering into the book—Bear’s patience is tested to its absolute limit. And as more and more animal friends stop by with cheerful, self-centred demands, Bear’s inner wild beast begins to stir…

Shaloshvili – whose previous titles include Pavlo Gets the Grumps and the exquisite Miss Leoparda – brings a rich visual flair to this picturebook about personal space and the quiet toll of ‘being nice.’ Her use of acrylic and watercolour crayon gives the artwork both energy and fuzzy warmth, while Bear himself is a triumph of subtle expression: a character who simmers with polite resistance until the pressure finally erupts.

The comedy builds through rhythmic repetition and increasingly absurd intrusions – both in request and and animal size – but beneath the whimsy lies something deeply familiar: the moment when your kindest instincts begin to fray. Shaloshvili captures with real nuance that tipping point where good intentions collapse under the weight of others’ expectations.

Thankfully, the story closes not in chaos but connection. Redemption comes in the form of Duck who – tellingly – wears a little hat just like Bear’s, With a cookie of his own, and in a perfectly-judged full-circle moment, it’s now Duck’s turn to be asked: can I have a bite?

Playful yet perceptive, this is a beautifully observed exploration of boundaries and balance, told with humour, honesty, and style. For every child (or adult) who’s ever smiled politely while their biscuit vanished, this is the picture book hug you didn’t know you needed – a small triumph of comic storytelling, made to be enjoyed on many levels.