FINDING BEAR – Launches today! A written piece by award-winning children’s author Hannah Gold

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A written piece by award-winning children’s author Hannah Gold on how she writes eco adventures without preaching to or terrifying her young readers, and the inspiration for her books, which include The Last Bear, The Lost Whale and her latest book, FINDING BEAR, which publishes on 28^th September.

In FINDING BEAR, Hannah reunites readers with April Wood who has returned home from her adventure on Bear Island. But over a year later, she can’t stop thinking about her best friend, a polar bear called Bear. When she hears that a polar bear has been shot and injured in Svalbard, April is convinced it’s her friend and persuades her dad to return with her to the northernmost reaches of the Arctic.

So begins an unforgettable journey across frozen tundra and icy glaciers. But along the way, April discovers much more than she bargained for – a tiny polar bear cub, in desperate need of her protection.

From Hannah:

When I wrote my debut children’s book, THE LAST BEAR, I wanted to tell a story of friendship, of love, of hope – but most of all a story about making a difference.

Inspired by my love of animals, I told a tale of a girl who becomes best friends with a wild polar bear. And somehow it became a multi-award winning smash hit!

In my brand new adventure, FINDING BEAR, when April hears that a polar bear has been shot and injured in Svalbard, she’s convinced it’s her friend and so persuades her dad to return with her to the northernmost reaches of the Arctic. Along the way, she discovers much more than she bargained for – a tiny polar bear cub in desperate need of her protection.

This is a story full of wildness, bravery and wonder but it’s also a story which touches upon the environment. In truth, it’s impossible not to write about polar bears without mentioning the melting sea-ice. I’m not here to preach though. I write about hope and beauty because I see it in the world around us every single day. And if I can inspire young readers, like you, then my heart is full.