Will We Always Hold Hands?

"Simultaneously quietly soothing yet deeply empowering—a friendship tale for the ages."

KIRKUS, a starred review

 

 

Bear and Rat are the best of friends who do everything together, but Rat wonders if Bear will always be there to hold her hand, no matter what happens …

 

A powerful and uplifting story about loving friendship, even through the hardest of times.

 

 

"A remarkable picture book that shows that regardless of what else we might have, to have that sort of love of another is everything."

 

Barbara Braxton

 

"An exquisitely poignant story of unconditional love, so outstandingly gripping that children from birth will keep it close in their hearts forever."

Romi Sharp

 

 

"Christopher Cheng writes books straight from the heart and his own experiences.…It’s beautiful and it shows what true friendship and what we do for others when we care about them. "

Education Empower

 

"This is an absolute gem for children and adults of every age that is sure to prove timeless and universal in appeal."

 

Nicole Nelson

Read Plus

 

 

 

 

 

A personal note from Christopher

 

Nearly all the pictures books that I write have a personal element to them, where something has had a direct impact on me ... and none will ever be more so than with this manuscript. When my beautiful wife Bini was diagnosed with cancer I needed some form of understanding, some comprehension, some way of relating to the new journey we were embarking on together, about the now, and about what might happen. And as a writer for kids, creating this story was the only way I had of working through this, or expressing my thoughts and feelings. And the characters ... they are very personal too, as Bini’s favourite has always been the Rat, mine of course is Bear.

 

 

Resources

 

• Bear and Rat Teacher's Notes (PDF)

 

 Purchase Will We Always Hold Hands? Online

• Coming Soon

 

Publisher (USA)

• Random House Studio

 

ISBN 9780593564516  (hardback)

ISBN 9780593564509  (hardback)