Biscuit Bear

Story

A little boy bakes a bear-shaped biscuit but this is no ordinary biscuit bear. During the night Biscuit Bear comes to life and, with no-one to play with, he decides to bake some friends of his own. The result is a circus of fun but can the fun last forever?

Why we chose it

Biscuit Bear is a resourceful hero and his story is told in wonderfully detailed - biscuit themed - illustrations.

Oxford author and illustrator Mini Grey has a special gift for approaching storytelling and illustration from unexpected angles, which makes her witty and colourful picture books a joy to read and reread, whatever your age.

Where it came from

Mini was given her name because she was born in the front seat of a mini car in a South Wales car park. Following school, Mini did a foundation course in Fine Art and then an English degree at University College London. After working as a theatre designer and a teacher, she did a Masters in illustration and combined her love of writing and illustrating by creating children’s books. Her first children’s story was Egg Drop in 2002, with Biscuit Bear following not long after.

Where it went next

Biscuit Bear won the Nestle Smarties Prize in 2004. It was also shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Awards and longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Associated stories

Other children’s picture books by Mini Grey include The Pea and the Princess (2003), The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (2005), the Traction Man series (2005, 2008, 2011), Toys in Space (2013), Hermelin (2015) and The Last Wolf (2018).

Find Biscuit Bear in the kitchen in Small Worlds.