Meet an unlikely fairy and his unexpected new best friend in The Bear Fairy. This laugh-out-loud picture book is about acceptance, authenticity, and standing up to anyone who tries to dull your sparkle.

Fairies, as everyone knows, are supposed to be pretty, sparkly, and dainty – not chubby, not fluffy, and definitely not easily tempted by potato chips. So, when Spencer catches a fairy in the park, he’s stunned to discover that this fairy looks nothing like the ones in storybooks.

The Bear Fairy is no delicate Tinkerbell. He hogs the remote, leaves crumbs everywhere, and snores like a truck. He’s messy, loud, and unapologetically himself – and he’s still very much a fairy. As Spencer and the Bear Fairy form an instant bond, their friendship is put to the test when one of Spencer’s friends mocks the Bear Fairy’s appearance and hurts his feelings.

Faced with the choice between staying quiet or standing up for someone he cares about, Spencer finds his voice. In doing so, he learns that friendship means more than fitting in – it means choosing kindness, courage, and loyalty, even when it’s uncomfortable.

With sharp wit and big-hearted humor, author Paul Coccia and illustrator Fred Blunt deliver a modern picture book that joyfully challenges stereotypes and celebrates being yourself. Bursting with expressive illustrations and perfectly timed laughs, this story reassures young readers that there’s no single way to look, act, or belong – and that everyone deserves to be seen for who they truly are.

Paul Coccia is the author of several acclaimed young adult novels. He is also the co-author, with Eric Walters, of On the Line, winner of the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award and a Red Maple Award shortlist title. Paul holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and lives in Toronto with his parrot and three dogs.

Just the Facts

The Bear Fairy
By: Paul Coccia
Illustrated by: Fred Blunt
Published by: Tundra Books
Ages: 3-7 | 40 pages | $24.99 Hardcover
Available on amazon.ca and Indigo/Chapters
Released on February 17, 2026

Other books by Paul Coccia

• I Got You Babe
• Leon Levels Up