Books

Ruby* is in charge of this book. And she’ll tell you something right now. There are NO BEARS in it. Not even one.

Ruby wants to tell you a story. A story with absolutely no bears. You don’t need bears for a book. You need pretty things like fairies and princesses and castles. And maybe funny things and exciting things – but definitely no bears!

• A humorous and exciting picture book from Meg McKinlay, with illustrations by Leila Rudge – the team that created Duck For a Day
• The multilayered text and illustrations will have kids reading the book over and over
• Many well-known fairytale references throughout

For classroom ideas for this book, please click here.

* Readers of the Candlewick US edition: firstly, welcome! and secondly, please don't be confused. In the Australian edition of this book, the protagonist is named Ruby, a name it appears is far more popular in the US than it is here. When Candlewick accepted the book for publication, their editor advised that there have been lots of Ruby-books lately, and wondered if I was open to a change. I offered a few suggestions, we settled on Ella, and the rest is ... well, slightly confusing, at least for the purposes of this website. Please feel free to squint a little and substitute "Ella" every time you read "Ruby" in these pages. I hope that clears things up, and that you have a much fun with Ella as Australian readers have had with Ruby.

What readers are saying:

'False advertising! I spotted a bear!'

'No Bears has been attracting praise and epithets like ‘instant classic', and no wonder ... This is a book that will delight children and adults alike, and will doubtless become a storytime staple in libraries and pre-schools everywhere.'
- writingWA review, the West Australian

Ages 4-6
32pp
illus. Leila Rudge
ISBN: 9781921529924
June, 2011
Walker Books Australia