Pierre the Bare Bear meets Zape the Great Ape

Benjamin Weiss
Fiction
Children's, Picture, Illustration
04-Dec-2025

A silly friendship adventure for kids ages 1-5 about being different, trying new things, and making new friends

A tiny bear, a lonely great ape, a world hidden under your hair… and a beautifully silly story about friendship, belonging, and giggle-filled adventure.

Pierre the Bare Bear Meets Zape the Great Ape is a whimsically illustrated, laugh-out-loud picture book perfect for children 18 months to 5 years old. From playful rhymes to watercolor-style artwork, this charming story invites little readers into a magical world tucked beneath your hair—where anything is possible and friendship can be found in the unlikeliest of places.

Meet Pierre, a tiny bare bear who runs a cozy shop underneath your hair selling pickles, tickles, and blueberry-flavored popsicles.
Meet Zape, a sweet orangutan who escapes from a lonely, square-shaped world with no tickles, no pickles, and absolutely no popsicles.

When Zape discovers Pierre’s hidden hair-world, she finds the one thing she’s always been missing: a friend.

Kids will love the rhythmic storytelling, adorable characters, and warm humor, while parents will appreciate the gentle themes of emotional connection, courage, and kindness.

⭐ Why Parents & Educators Love This Book
✔ Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers (18 months–5 years)
✔ Encourages imagination and creative thinking
✔ Shows positive friendship, empathy, and social-emotional learning
✔ Great for bedtime, circle time, and early reading
✔ Beautiful, soft watercolor-style illustrations that feel timeless
✔ Silly enough to make kids giggle—sweet enough to make parents smile

⭐ If Your Child Loves…
• Dr. Seuss–style rhyming books
• Silly characters with heart
• Whimsical picture books
• Animal friends & imaginative worlds
…they’ll adore Pierre and Zape.

⭐ A Delightful New Bedtime Favorite
This is the first book in the Pierre & Zape series, introducing two lovable characters who will spark your child’s imagination and become fast favorites on the bookshelf.

Born in the United States and now raising a young family in Australia, Benjamin Weiss is rediscovering the world through tiny eyes and a very chaotic imagination. He writes children’s books that are a little bit silly, a little bit heartfelt, and occasionally completely absurd, because that’s usually how real life with kids works. Benjamin lives in Melbourne with his wife, daughter, and their delightfully odd dog, Babka, who frequently tries to eat the stories before they’re finished.

Pierre the Bare Bear meets Zape the Great Ape - Benjamin Weiss