Looking for a fun, engaging story that sparks both laughter and learning? Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson is a fantastic choice! This springtime tale follows Bear, who wakes up from his long winter hibernation feeling very, very hungry. With the help of his animal friends, he eats and eats… until he’s bigger than ever and ready for a surprise.
Perfect for homeschoolers, ESL classrooms, and primary teachers, this story offers rich opportunities for vocabulary, sequencing, storytelling, and social-emotional learning. Let’s dive into why it’s such a wonderful pick and how you can bring it to life with your students.
About the Author
Karma Wilson is a bestselling American children’s author known for her Bear series. Written in rhythmic, rhyming text and paired with Jane Chapman’s warm, expressive illustrations, these stories are loved by children worldwide. Wilson’s books are particularly useful for teachers and ESL educators because their repetition, rhyme, and predictable structure support language development while keeping young readers engaged.
Why We Love Bear Wants More
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Springtime Theme – Perfect for seasonal lessons about animals, nature, and new beginnings.
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Rhyming Text – The rhythmic language makes it ideal for read-alouds, memory building, and ESL students.
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Rich Vocabulary – Words like meadow, munch, grow, graze add descriptive and action vocabulary.
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Sequencing and Prediction – Students can practice putting events in order as Bear meets each friend.
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Friendship and Sharing – Themes of kindness, helping, and celebrating together make for great social-emotional discussions.
Activities for the Classroom or Home
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Story Sequencing CardsPrint or draw cards of Bear meeting each animal friend. Students can arrange them in the correct order, retelling the story as they go.
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Vocabulary HuntHighlight words like graze, munch, nibble, feast. Students can act them out, match them to pictures, or use them in short sentences.
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Bear’s Picnic Role-PlayCreate a pretend picnic with toy food, paper cutouts, or real snacks. Students can “feed” Bear while practicing vocabulary and role-playing dialogue.
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Story Retelling PuppetsMake simple animal puppets (Bear, hare, badger, mole, gopher, raven). Children retell the story in their own words, boosting oral language and creativity.
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Writing and Drawing Prompts
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If I were Bear, what food would I want more of?
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What would you bring to Bear’s picnic?Students can write or draw their answers, connecting text to personal experiences.
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Cross-Curricular Fun
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Science: Learn about hibernation and how animals find food in spring.
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Math: Count the foods Bear eats, sort them by type, or make simple addition problems.
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Art: Create a spring meadow collage or decorate Bear’s picnic scene.
Printable and Extension Activities
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Cozy Reading CornerRead the story in a comfortable nook with cushions, blankets, and soft spring-themed decorations. Students can bring a favorite stuffed animal to “join the picnic.”
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Food Sorting WorksheetProvide a printable worksheet where children cut and sort foods into groups: fruits, veggies, treats.
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Bear’s Food Dice GameMake a dice with foods from the story. Children roll, name the food, and say a sentence like, Bear wants more berries!
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Story MapUse a printable template where students draw or write what happens first, next, and last in the story.
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Mindful Snack TimeShare a healthy snack (berries, fruit, popcorn) and encourage students to notice taste, smell, and texture — connecting to the story’s food theme.
Storytime Videos
Enhance your lessons with these read-alouds:
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Bear Wants More – Read Aloud by StoryTime at Awnie’s House👉 Watch on YouTube
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Bear Wants More – Animated Read Aloud by KidTimeStoryTime👉 Watch on YouTube
Bringing the Story to Life
Bear Wants More is more than just a fun springtime read — it’s a gateway to exploring vocabulary, sequencing, friendship, and nature. Whether you’re reading it at home, in an ESL classroom, or in a primary school setting, this story is guaranteed to bring joy, laughter, and meaningful learning.
So grab a copy, set up your cozy space, and let Bear and his friends inspire your next learning adventure!
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