Bear Story #1
To begin with the classic, Brown Bear Brown Bear by Eric Carle. A great book for toddlers to encourage language development and to allow them opportunities to demonstrate which animals they can label. In addition, this story encourages color recognition.
Bear Felt Story # 2
The Mitten by Jann Brett is such a fun story to include into a winter curriculum or a mitten theme. One great idea I once observed with a library visit was the story told with stuffed animals and a large woolen mitten!
Bear Felt Story #3
Down By the Bay is a fun song/book which introduces rhyming with children. A great extension is to see whether children can create their own verses.
Further reading: Polar Bears and Penguins
Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas