Bear by Himself
By (Author) Geoffrey Hayes
New York Review Books
NYRB Kids
11th November 2025
14th October 2025
United States
Children
Fiction
Hardback
48
Width 152mm, Height 191mm
A heart-warming picture book for kids ages 3-7 about a bear who finds pleasure in solitude and the great outdoors-from the creator of the Benny and Penny series. The first reissue of Geoffrey Hayes's classic children's book in over two decades! A heart-warming picture book for kids ages 3-7 about a bear who finds pleasure in solitude and the great outdoors-from the creator of the Benny and Penny series. The first reissue of Geoffrey Hayes's classic children's book in over two decades! Bear by Himself is a sweet tale of the joys and rewards of solitude. In seven simple yet lyrical sentences, we follow Bear by himself from the country into town, from day to night, from adventure and contemplation to bedtime and dreamland. Through this journey, readers get to see how Bear's senses are heightened and his imagination enriched by his ability to pause and enjoy the world around him. First published by Harper & Row in 1976, this classic children's picture book was Geoffrey Hayes's first. He went on to become a successful author, illustrator, and cartoonist, best known for his Benny and Penny series. NYRB Kids is excited to bring back this classic, long out of print, with Hayes's original illustrations. Bear and his adventures provide a much-needed example of how to have fun by yourself and explore the wonderful world around you, lessons as timeless as Bear himself.
Geoffrey Hayes (1947-2017) has written and illustrated over 40 children's books, including the popular Otto & Uncle Tooth Mysteries (Step into Reading), the Patrick Bear books, and the Benny and Penny series. Geoffrey received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for Benny and Penny in The Big No-No!