A girl's habit of comparing herself to her sister comes to a head when they're given identical teddy bears—which don't stay identical for long.This little girl's sister is
always good—smart and tidy and talented. She can't be always good like that, so instead, she's always bad.
When Mom brings home matching bears for them, her sister names hers Good Bear; they play nicely together, and Good Bear stays pristine and perfect. "Bad" sister's Bad Bear, on the other hand, soon gets dirty, and even loses an eye!
But her sister still wants to play with Bad Bear. In fact, she thinks he's pretty special. Love has a strange way of changing the look of things, and maybe two bears can both be good, even if they're not exactly alike... maybe two sisters can, too.
Hyewon Yum brings her gentle lens and warm, irresistible art style to feelings she remembers well from growing up as a twin.
Good Bear, Bad Bear is perfect for any kid grappling with self esteem and comparison with peers, especially siblings.
On sale: November 3, 2026
Age: 4-8 years
Grade: Preschool - 3
Page count: 40 Pages
ISBN: 9780823460540
Hyewon Yum is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including
Toto,
The Twins' Blanket,
Saturday is Swimming Day,
Grandpa Across the Ocean, and
Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten!, which received the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award. She is also the illustrator of Maya Myers’s
Not Little and
Not Perfect and Andrea Wang’s
Luli and the Language of Tea. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, she now lives in Brooklyn with her family.
Rendered with colored pencil, crayon, and watercolor, the empathetic and observant artwork deals in round-cheeked figures and buttery yellows, letting self-recrimination sting without tipping visually into gloom. . . . Moving from certitude into subtlety, it’s a wise celebration of the multifaceted self.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Spread-length illustrations hilariously capture [the siblings’] contrasting play. . . . Well-paced for comic effect, this is a great read-aloud. Yum’s distinctive crayon, colored pencil, and watercolor illustrations lend a childlike perspective and feature well-chosen details. . . . The book ends with a playful, wordless twist that deliciously underscores this point. A well-crafted tale that respects the emotional intelligence of children. . . . this deserves a spot in school and public libraries.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
A funny, feelings-front tale with a light touch.
—Kirkus Reviews
Colored-pencil, crayon, and watercolor illustrations complement this thoughtful exploration of labels, sibling comparison, and the ways expectations can shape behavior. The story’s strongest message is its rejection of simple good-and-bad categories. . . . A warm, accessible choice for conversations about self-perception, empathy, and emotional growth.
—Booklist
