Bear Who Wanted to Dance

Author: Stephanie Stansbie

, Illustrator: Wendy J Warren

£12.99

ISBN: 9781838918675 Category:

PUBLICATION DATE: October 2 2025 (Not yet published - orders will be dispatched on or around publication date)

BINDING: Hardback

EXTENT: 32 pages

DIMENSIONS: 286 x 251 mm

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A heartwarming picture book about chasing your dreams, celebrating your differences and twirling to your own rhythm.

Meet Rita, a big bear with an even bigger dream! Rita is a talented, passionate, hard-working ballerina. And she’s top of her class! But when she studies her ballet magazines, and compares herself to her friends, she realises – she’s the wrong shape! Can Rita find her inner power and confidence in her beautiful big-bear body?

With lyrical text from Stephanie Stansbie and soft, magical illustrations from debut talent Wendy Warren, The Bear Who Wanted to Dance is a beautiful picture book about self-acceptance, body positivity, representation, and – of course – dancing!

Perfect for sharing with fans of Brontorina by James Howe and Randy Cecil, Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees, and Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. This uplifting story will strike a chord with any child who has ever felt out of place or like they didn’t quite fit the mould.

Meet the author

Stephanie Stansbie

Stephanie Stansbie has been a children’s book editor since the nineties and an author since the noughties. She adores editing and writing in equal measure and has always worked on illustrated books, w…

Meet the illustrator