Pudsey and the Thread of Hope
by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Joris Bergmans
Interest age: 4 to 7
Reading age: 7+
Published by Puffin, 2026
About this book
Pudsey Bear notices Jai, a little boy who isn’t smiling and laughing with the other kids and guides him with his magic paw through a hidden magic portal via a glowing thread. They go on a journey helping other children face their challenges and in doing so Jai learns a lot about sharing his feelings about his dad, who has died. Ultimately, it’s a story with a message about coping with bereavement.
This book is based on BBC Children in Need’s animated story by Tom Fletcher celebrating 40 years of Pudsey Bear and produced in association with BBC Children in Need. It’s a sweet story told in rhyme, starring Pudsey, the little bear with an eyepatch who has been the mascot of the Children in Need charity for 40 years.
£1 from each paperback sale of this book in the UK and Ireland will be given to BBC Children in Need.
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Lists of recommended reads
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Stories about grief and loss for 0-5
Reading stories together can be a useful way to talk about sad feelings. This collection of picture books about bereavement contains some of our favourite moving yet uplifting stories.