Want to find the tile/author of a children's book. About a bear or possibly a polar bear. He takes a ride on a whale. His friends want to know why he is so plain. They find out that there is a reason they have to coats that they do. Camouflage. Might also be a parrot or a toucan in the story.

Else Holmelund Minarik wrote, and Maurice Sendak illustrated, the classic Little Bear books. Some of the titles are Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear's Visit.
You might be remembering one of these books, but if they're not the ones, I still recommend them highly.