I love Bear and Squirrel, I’m an overgrown child but luckily I have the girls to share this with and they loved it as much as me, it’s wonderful, full of humour and look at those beautiful illustrations.mThe story is top class, you know we love the characters , it’s a fantastic and inspirational book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a beautiful picture book about Bear & Squirrel, but is there room for a third? Focussing on themes of friendship and working to get along despite differences.

Huge hit with the kids.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for an early eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the gorgeous and high-anticipated follow up to I'm Sticking With You and we were really excited to read this having found the last one at the library. Bear and Squirrel are the best of friends. They do everything together. In the last book, the friendship gets a little intense for Squirrel and so they spend some time apart but don't worry, spoiler alert: eventually realise they need each other. In this story, Bear and Squirrel are joined by a new character, Chicken. Chicken wants to be their new friend, but Bear and Squirrel aren't too sure.

It's such a brilliant story about friendship. I love that the theme throughout the book is rhythm and playing and 'fitting' together. It starts out by showing that Bear and Squirrel have really found their rhythm together but when Chicken comes along, he's totally out of rhythm and time and he's playing too loudly for Bear and Squirrel. Poor Chicken eventually leaves to try and find some other friends, but doesn't manage to find the right sort. Bear and Squirrel realise that they should have tried to include Chicken in their group and set out to find him. This book made us laugh out loud. The story is charming and the illustrations are wonderful too. We love how some of the background characters from the first book are in this one too. Very clever! It has a great message about friendship and it teaches children that although sometimes new friends might disrupt the rhythm you've got going on, eventually you will all find a way to sing together.

Beat and Squirrel are back, this time with Chicken who wants to join their band and friendship. But the two have their excuses to not let her follow them - till Chicken learns to know some dangerous foxes and the two decide that life in a threesome is also nice, and in this friendship everyone can develop their talents,
I liked the lovely illustrations, but most of all the rhymes that I´d like to hear accompanied with music and sing them myself.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Fab picture book sequel for championing friendship & getting along despite differences.

Bear & squirrel are content as a two but is there room for a third?

Gorgeous illustrations and a strong but simple message of acceptance over exclusion🐻🐔🐿

Smriti Halls has written a narrative that appeals to young children and the adults reading them. The shirt, rhyming phrases are catchy, interesting and pleasurable to read. The plot is strong; friendship of two very different characters shows young children how comications can be overcome. A brilliant addition to any picture book shelf.
Recommended for ages 4+

What a lovely follow up to 'I'm sticking with you.' Chicken is a plucky one, that's for sure and isn't going to let squirrel and bear leave him out without a lot of persuasion! This rhyming book gently shows children the importance of friendship and not leaving others out, without being preachy in the slightest.

This book has a gentle humour, the illustrations convey so much emotion and the text is fun and bouncy when you read it out loud. I'm sure it will be read again and again in many homes.

I’m Sticking With You Too is a beautiful story of friendship and acceptance. Told in rhyming verse and packed with vivid illustrations, I can see this book appealing to so many young readers. It would be a wonderful addition to any rhyme spine and I can imagine children growing familiar, and joining in with, the repeated refrains.

I love the message of the story and feel that it would be really worthwhile to share with children of all ages, as it will help them to prepare for some of the more challenging aspects of friendship and sharing those you love. We will definitely be adding this to our EYFS/KS1 story sessions. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This story covers the feelings of wanting to be part of a group and acceptance. It shows that things dont always turn out how we would like them to. Children will learn how we should welcome friends into our fold however much we like things the way they are. When the friends turn their back on the chicken and he joins another band they begin to realise maybe they had acted in haste and try to win nack his friendship . They realise that they can change their ways and three is not such a crowd after all. A good lesson to be learned in a fun way.

I saw this book on NetGalley and it instantly appealed to me because of the amazing illustrations and theme of friendship; two’s company but three’s a crowd… or is it?
As an infant teacher of more than (ahem) twenty odd years, I have a profound love for picture books which explain more easily the growing up situations children face and help them talk about and find ways through them, without it having to be about themselves. This is just such a book. Bear and squirrel are friends (see the previous book ‘I’m sticking with you’ for details!) but now there is someone else wanting to join them and this could be a problem, two fit together so well, it would be far too tricky with three wouldn’t it?With beautiful illustrations telling the story alongside the words, this close to perfect picture book presents a tricky situation when a chicken is very keen to join the friendship. At first, bear and squirrel are adamant that it just won’t work. But when chicken is lured away by a bad crowd, can he be rescued in time?
This deceptively simple book will be a hit with young children and are so valuable to give talking points with youngsters either at home or in a class or nurture group setting. Children will easily be able to see the problems facing the characters and many will be able to give ideas about how the problems could be solved. By exploring this with the characters in the book, they will be learning more about relationships and acceptance in their own lives.

This is a cute little book which could be used in schools to encourage children to include others in their games.
The illustrations are fun but the story is told solely through speech and at times it’s confusing as to who is saying what, although this too could be turned into a lesson about using speech marks and synonyms for said
Would recommend as a KS1 text

A cute picture book about a chicken that wants to join a musical duo of a bear and squirrel. Beautiful verse, and the illustrations are very pretty too.

I love the cover! So cute! This short book follows Bear and Squirrel but they didn't want Chicken to be part of the twosome as said three is a crowd! I'm so glad they gave Chicken the chance to be their friend too. I love the illustrations and the rhyming story. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Bear and Squirrel continue their friendship in this beautifully illustrated book Smriti Halls and Steve Small. Together, they feel that their friendship has it all and they have no room for Chicken. They soon realise that a friendship of two is good but three can be better. I cannot wait to share this book with my children at school to explore acceptance, compromise and friendship. I can see this book being a must on many school bookshelves!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful, funny and inspirational book! I adore the illustrations and the colour palette. The story is excellent, and the characters are wonderful. Every child (and adult) would want to read this many times.

This book is as brilliant as the first. A fabulous look at the concept of two’s company 3’s a crowd which is a common problem that many young children have to overcome and they navigate the world of friendship.

Definitely a book to share in schools and at home. I can not wait to get a hard copy to share with the children I work with.

Bear and squirrel return with another delightful tale about friendship and belonging.This time they are joined by chicken who wants to accompany their musical duo. Initially Bear and Squirrel are reluctant to let Chicken join them following his somewhat noisy and awkward audition but following Chicken’s departure and journey towards some rather unsavoury fox characters , the three unite as friends and realise that they can form a group with all their own individual skills. As with I’m Sticking With You , the illustrations are wonderful and charming and the story is perfectly pitched for young readers and story listeners - perfect for Ks 1 story time and PSHE .Another winner from Smriti Halls and Steve Small