Old Bear and Friends

Old Bear and Friends is a popular series of children's books written by British author and illustrator Jane Hissey. The books became the basis for a BAFTA award winning television series Old Bear Stories.

The front cover of the first Old Bear book

Plot

The animals at the playroom have remembered that Old Bear disappeared long ago. He has been put into the loft. They rescue him and bring him back down to the playroom. He becomes the most respected toy and guides the others in their many adventures. The most recent book to be published was Splash in 2003, which was the first book where the toys leave the house and garden.

Characters

• Old Bear — an old dusty teddy bear
• Bramwell Brown — a wise Brown Bear, often considered second to Old Bear and the leader of the animals in Old Bear's absence
• Duck — a clumsy toy duck
• Rabbit — an impulsive toy rabbit
• Little Bear — a small white bear who wears overly baggy red trousers
• Zebra — a stuffed zebra
• Sailor — a sailor doll
• Jolly Tall the Giraffe — a toy giraffe
• Hoot the Owl — a female owl who lives in the loft
• Ruff the Dog — a bouncy toy dog
• Splash the Seal — a friendly seal, who meets the toys while they are on holiday at the beach

The books

• Old Bear (1986)
• Little Bear's Trousers (1987)
• Teddy Bear Tales (1988)
• Little Bear Lost (1989)
• Old Bear Birthday Book (1990)
• Jolly Tall (1990)
• Jane Hissey's Old Bear Journal (1991)
• Old Bear and His Friends (1991)
• Jolly Snow (1991)
• Little Bear's Bedtime (1992)
• Little Bear's Day (1992)
• Old Bear - My First Year (Jane Hissey Collection) (1992)
• Old Bear Address Book (1992)
• Old Bear Height Chart (1993)
• Old Bear Bookplates (1993)
• Ruff (1994)
• Old Bear Stories (1994) (contains Old Bear, Jolly Tall, Jolly Snow and Ruff)
• Old Bear Autograph Book (1994)
• Old Bear - A Pop-up Book (1995)
• Hoot (1996)
• Old Bear Photograph Album (1997)
• The Old Bear Board Book (1998) (a new version of 'Old Bear')
• Jolly Tall Board Book (1998)
• Jolly Snow Board Book (1998)
• Little Bear's Dragon and Other Stories (1999)
• Little Bear's Alphabet (2000)
• Little Bear's Numbers (2001)
• What's the Time, Little Bear? (2001)
• Old Bear's All-Together Painting (2001) (alternative title: Old Bear's Surprise Painting)
• Splash (2003)