- Picture Books
- Ages 2–6
- Everyday Life
Let's Stick Together
Book 3 of 3 in I'm Sticking with YouView the full series
Bear and Squirrel are back and it's time to party — but Bear is feeling shy. A warm, rhyming story about how a good friend helps you through your worries and wobbles.
- 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.
It's time for a party, and Squirrel is in his element: he knows exactly how to throw the biggest, best celebration ever. Bear, though, is feeling shy and unsure, worried about the noise, the crowd and getting things wrong. As the big day builds, the two friends have to find a way through Bear's wobbles together, discovering that a party is a lot less frightening, and a lot more fun, when your best friend is right beside you. Smriti Halls's joyful rhyming text and Steve Small's warm, funny illustrations make this third I'm Sticking with You story a reassuring read about shyness, confidence and the quiet, steadying help that friendship gives. A gentle, celebratory choice for any child who finds big occasions a little overwhelming, and a happy note to share with a nervous party-goer.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Best as a shared read-aloud from 2 or 3, especially useful around a birthday party or other big, potentially overwhelming occasion.
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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
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Friendship
- Shyness
- Read aloud
- Big occasions
- Rhyming stories
Avoid if
- Wants action adventure
- Dislikes rhyme
Particularly good for children who are…
- Anxiety and worry
- Making friends
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A warm EYFS/PSHE story for talking about shyness, nerves, and how friends help us face things that feel big and scary.
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
Any child who's felt shy about a big party will recognise Bear straight away, and Squirrel's steady, cheerful help makes the wobble feel safe. Warm, funny and full of celebration.
- Friendship and belonging
- Being understood finally
- Cosy safety
Why parents love it
A gentle, reassuring take on shyness and big occasions, showing how a good friend helps you through your worries. A comforting read-aloud for a child facing a party, a performance or any daunting event.
- 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.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
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