The Blanket Bears by Samuel Langley-Swain

The Blanket Bears by Samuel Langley-Swain and Ashlee Spink is a deeply sensitive and inclusive tale of two young, neglected bears in need of a new family. For children in or about to enter the care system, this beautiful picture book provides a story to relate to and to start conversations. For children who know little of this world, the book provides a meaningful glimpse. Although the story contains joy, warmth and love, it does not invite pretence that kind foster parents and a 'forever family' will entirely undo the harm of neglect. But the story does bring joy and my five-year old daughter delighted in the ending and the details of the illustrations. As she put it 'I like that story, it's full of kindness'.

What a lovely story written by Samuel, about two little bears who are looking for their forever adoptive homes. It actually got me and Matthew quite emotional reading it.
Matthew said he was so happy when they got adopted at the end and their fur grew back!

It’s such a lovely way to explain to children about the adoptive process. It opened up so many conversations with Matthew about why people adopt, but also about the fostering parents and what roles they play in children’s lives too.
Matthew’s favourite pages are when they arrive at Bailey and Nikos house, he said he knew they were safe now and everything that happens after this is happy memories. - I teared up a little when he said this. I forget how big he is now and how much he understands.

The illustrations are lovely, when reading with Molly they really kept her engaged. So bright and colourful. Molly loved their blanket coats!
Molly also said that Bailey & Niko looked like her panda bear she has and sat with Matthew and read the story to her bear.

I was so pleased to see this book not only address adoption but in a way that children can start to understand. The hints at different aspects of adoption and how this affects the child/ren are touched upon in a sympathetic and sensitive way. The story walks through the adoption process in a simple, easy to understand, way but creates opportunity for conversations to be had with your child/ren.

It's a rollercoaster of emotions from the beginning.
As a parent, I felt the heartbreak for the baby bears, the sheer happiness when Tilly helps them to find their 'foster care bears' when they're at their lowest and the intense fear and confusion when they're searching for their forever family.
It touches on so many aspects that adopted children go through.
As a teacher, I can see how this will be used in schools to educate children about the adoption process in a sensitive, child friendly way.

The illustrations are perfect for supporting the telling of the story and little touches like the pictures the bears have drawn when they're at the window are perfect.

Finally, the blanket coats theme throughout helps show the need for security for the bears but that at the end, they gain their security through their forever family, no longer needing their coats.

Such a heartwarming and informative story. Another fantastic write by Samuel Langley - Swain.

This is an adorably illustrated story about adoption which I think would do well on any book shelf but specifically in nursery’s, schools, children’s centres etc.

The topic of adoption isn’t a new one to us our to our book collection but this book shows it in such a sweet way while exploring the feelings of the little bears. I also feel it’s a more accurate description then some other books with the process taking a while and the bears living with a foster family rather than meeting and everything being done in the drop of a hat.

Another beautiful story by Sam Langley-Swain, he just gets it right every time!

This book is about two little bears that are taken into care. It follows their journey from being found scared and alone in the snow to being cared for by foster parents and finally meeting and then living with their forever family. It's a really lovely book that can help children understand the concept of adoption. It recognises that children may feel lots of different emotions during this process - feelings of being unsure, worried, scared, afraid, joy and excitement.

I really like the bit where the foster care bears make the scared, naked bears a special surprise for their first morning in the foster home....some blanket coats. While the little bears are unsure at first, they smile politely and put the coats on. When they discover that the coats are so soft and warm it makes them feel a little bit safer.

The illustrations are lovely. The first page shows two naked bears huddled together and alone in the snow. This is in sharp contrast to the final page where the bears are happily playing in the snow with their fur grown back and their adoptive parents watching on.