Friends come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the best friends are the most unlikely of all. When a lonely little boy receives an invitation to play written on a paper boat, it seems that he has found the best friend he's been longing for - at last! But Bear isn't quite the playmate the boy had imagined. If only he knew how to play games properly! Then, when Bear starts to build a treehouse, the boy is intrigued and a magical summer begins. As autumn passes and the first winter snowflakes start to fall, the boy is left alone, and only then does he truly realise what he has lost . . . Until at last spring comes again and the friends are joyfully reunited with a very special hug! This tender story with heart-warming illustrations exquisitely captures the change of seasons and explores themes of friendship and belonging. Fully illustrated throughout by Sarah Massini, the illustrator of The Velveteen Rabbit, The Boy and the Bear and Star in the Jar. Tracey Corderoy is a multi-award-winning author and has written over 70 books for children, including the hugely successful Shifty McGifty series. Every Nosy Crow paperback picture book comes with a free "Stories Aloud" audio recording. Just scan the QR code and listen along!