The Very Cranky Bear is a 2008 children's picture book by Nick Bland.

[1] It is about four animal friends, Moose, Lion, Zebra, and Sheep, who enter a cave to get out of a rainstorm and disturb a bear.

A review in Publishers Weekly of The Very Cranky Bear wrote "Using a singsong rhyme scheme and a comically bumbling animal cast, Bland (The Runaway Hug) playfully introduces the concepts of consideration and respect in a story first published in Australia in 2008",[2] and Kirkus Reviews called it "Good, not-so-cranky fun.

"[3] The Very Cranky Bear has also been reviewed by CM: Canadian Review of Materials,[4] Booklist,[5] School Library Journal,[5] The Horn Book,[5] and Library Media Connection.

[6] It was the 2012 National Simultaneous Storytime book.