Where Kids Don't Just Read the Story... They Help Write It!

Things work differently here. 

At Bug & Bear Press, young readers become co-idea makers, co-authors, & co-illustrators—shaping the stories they love and giving back to the communities they care about.

Want your kid’s work to be featured in the next book? 

Start here:

Follow:

Story Shaper Spotlights

Why We Built This

At Bug & Bear Press, we believe kids aren’t just readers—they’re creators.

That’s why—starting with Book Five—every story we publish is shaped by real kids (of all ages) through our nationwide Creativity Challenges.
Think wild themes, wacky rhymes, and hand-drawn magic.

And because communities shape these creators, 
75% of every launch goes back to schools, clubs, and libraries they choose.

We call it Participatory Publishing.

You’ll call it magic.

Book Four—The Story Shapers—is the bridge between our early books and 
the co-created stories we’re building with kids today.
It’s the spark that started the movement.

Want a copy? You should.

Bug & Bear Adventures

The Story Shapers Experience is Coming to You!

Two teenagers. Two dogs. Two rats.
And one epic road trip with a mission to reshape how picture books are made.

From libraries to classrooms, Bug & Bear Press founder Rebecca Young and the rest of the the Story Shapers Squad
are hitting the road to bring stories to life—one stop, one reader, one creative spark at a time.

Join her for live readings, on-the-spot Creativity Challenges, behind-the-scenes peeks at our co-creation process,
and the chance to meet the squad (yes, maybe even the rats).

Don’t worry — the grown-up comes too. Somebody has to drive the RV and corral the chaos.

Want to see where we’re headed next — or invite us to your hometown?