William is scared of the place under the stairs. He is absolutely sure there's a great big and probably hungry grizzly bear lurking there. He is utterly convinced that the bear will gobble him up if he doesn't feed it, so every day he carefully opens the door, throws in some food and slams it shut quickly - wham, bang, thump!

Find out what happens when a nastly smell pervades the house and Mum and William decide to investigate . . .

A beautifully illustrated classic from the brilliant, award-winning author-illustrator, Helen Cooper

About the Author
Helen Cooper is an author and illustrator whose work includes classic picture books such as The Bear Under the Stairs, Pumpkin Soup, The Baby Who Wouldn't Go to Bed and Tatty Ratty. Her books have been translated into 30 languages and won many awards including the Library Association Kate Greenaway Medal - twice. More recently she has collaborated as a writer with other illustrators. Notably, Saving the Butterfly, illustrated by Gill Smith, which was published in 2022. She has also written and illustrated children's MG fiction and the latest - The Taming of the Cat - published in October 2023.

Reviews
Cooper has a shadowy style which she uses to great effect, wafting us into the surreal imagination of a boy determined to stay up all night * The Times *
Helen Cooper's beautifully illustrated, dreamy book dealing with the fears born of children's imaginings blurs the line between fact and fantasy in a way that provides lots of scope for classroom discussion * TES *
Beautifully and evocatively illustrated . . . A gem . . . A simple yet captivating picture book which youngsters will return to again and again * Junior Bookshelf *
Successfully combines the slightly scary with homely reassurance; it is effectively and simply told, and is brought to life by plenty of imaginative, detailed, full-page illustrations * Books for your Children *



Book Information
ISBN 9780552558457
Author Helen Cooper
Format Paperback
Page Count 32
Imprint Picture Corgi
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Weight(grams) 140g
Dimensions(mm) 260mm * 214mm * 4mm