Simon Bear, Mollie, Gwen, Baby Bear, Arthur, and Benjamin Bear are "proper" bears made from soft mohair fabric with moveable joints and growlers by Helen, the owner of the gift shop. Though the bears were made to sell, Helen falls in love with their characters and she realises she can't let them go! So the bears live together on the top shelf in the gift shop where they yearn to be involved in life "outside." Suspicions arise when chocolates go missing from the cabinet, and when Helen opens the shop in the morning the bears seem to have swapped places on the shelf. In the story you can find out how the bears get out through the shop window for their adventures in and around the town. Prepare yourselves for some "ups and downs" as you read about the predicaments Baby Bear gets into (the other bears are always around to help out), and get to know Arthur before he sets off on his travels!