- Picture Books
- Ages 2–6
- Everyday Life
I'm Sticking with You
Book 1 of 3 in I'm Sticking with YouView the full series
A warm, funny rhyming story about a bear who sticks to his best friend Squirrel through thick, thin and every clumsy mishap. A lovely first book about devoted, whole-hearted friendship.
- Best for2–6
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Rhyming
- Repetitive
- Conversational
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Heartwarming
- Gentle
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Bear and Squirrel are the very best of friends, and wherever Squirrel goes, Bear is right behind him: sticking close whether Squirrel is happy, grumpy, brave or silly. But Bear's devotion is a little accident-prone. He sinks their canoe, catapults Squirrel off the see-saw and breaks his favourite mug, until Squirrel finally loses his temper and says he needs some space. Alone at last, Squirrel discovers that everything is quieter, tidier and far, far less fun without his best friend beside him. Smriti Halls's bouncy, read-aloud rhyme and Steve Small's expressive, gently funny artwork make this a joyful celebration of the kind of friendship that sticks together no matter what. It works beautifully as a shared cuddle-up read and as a gentle way to talk about closeness, patience and giving a friend room to breathe.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Best as a shared read-aloud from about 2 or 3, when the rhyme and comic pictures land hardest. Early readers of 5–7 can manage the text themselves, but it shines as a cuddle-up book.
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- Best fit · 2–6
- Read aloud · 2–6
- Independent · 5–7
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
5 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Friendship
- Read aloud
- Rhyming stories
- Bear and squirrel
- Cosy bedtime
Avoid if
- Wants action adventure
- Dislikes rhyme
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
- Low self esteem
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A gentle EYFS/PSHE anchor for talking about friendship, kindness, patience and the give-and-take of getting along.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Bear's whole-hearted, clumsy devotion is very funny, and the moment Squirrel realises he wants his friend back is deeply satisfying. Children recognise both sides: loving someone loudly, and needing a little space.
- Friendship and belonging
- Being understood finally
- Cosy safety
Why parents love it
A bouncy read-aloud that celebrates devoted friendship while gently making space for the idea that even best friends sometimes need a moment apart. Steve Small's art is warm and full of comic detail.
- Shared humour
- Beautiful illustrations
- Bedtime appropriate
- Conversation starter
In the series
I'm Sticking with You.
3 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
