There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to this remote Arctic outpost for six months. But one endless summer night, April meets one. He is starving, lonely and a long way from home. Determined to save him, April begins the most important journey of her life.
“The character of Bear came to me first. I can’t remember when or how, but suddenly he was gazing at me with his dark chocolate eyes and a forlorn, pleading expression on his face,” explained author, Hannah Gold.
“I’ve always found it impossible to ignore animals, particularly ones as magnificent, regal and bighearted as Bear. There was a story he had to tell, and I, apparently, was the one to tell it.”
This moving story will win the hearts of children the world over and show them that no one is too young or insignificant to make a difference.
“April’s journey into the Arctic wilderness is every bit as magical as Lucy Pevensie’s tumble through the wardrobe into Narnia, conjuring that same sense of absolute wonder. On one level this is pure escapist joy, an adventure story about the extraordinary bond between a child and an animal,” noted Fiona Noble, Bookseller Book of the Month, February 2021.
“But there is a deeper message at work, too. April shares the urgent concerns of so many young people about the environment, witnessing first-hand the impact of climate change. And Gold gives her the agency to make an impact, a move that will resonate with children who feel powerless. A beautiful, unforgettable début, enhanced by Pinfold’s breath-taking art.”
Author, Hannah Gold
Levi Pinfold’s debut, The Django, won the Book Trust Best New Illustrator award and his second standalone picture book, Black Dog, was awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for excellence in children’s book illustration.
Publishing ahead of International Polar Bear Day, The Last Bear will be printed in a glorious, hardback gift edition.
The Last Bear is a celebration of the love between a child and an animal, a battle cry for our world and an irresistible adventure with a heart as big as a bear’s.
“With a loud enough roar, I know we can make a difference,” concluded Gold.
