The Island and the Bear [Paperback]

Anything can happen anywhere.
Anywhere was an island.
Anything was a bear.

One windy morning on a wild and quiet Hebridean island, a bear appeared where there should not have been a bear.

The gentle giant played happily in streams, danced in the wind, and would not harm a living thing. But even friendly bears don't belong on Scottish islands. Will he ever find his way home?

This touching tale, recounted in Louise Greig's gentle verse, and brought to life by Vanya Nastanlieva's enchanting illustrations, is inspired by a true story that has since become legend in the Scottish Hebrides.

'The Island and the Bear is a true animal fable that has a message of overcoming fear with love at its core. It is a great gift from an area celebrated for its isolated, wild, sea-framed beauty, poetry, and music.'
– Midwest Book Review

'The story has a rather ethereal feeling about it, like a folk tale though based on a true story from the Scottish Hebrides. The soft, beautiful illustrations create a lovely tale.'
– Youth Services Book Review

'Greig weaves magic in every line she writes.'
– The Herald

'... flashes of lilting language and perceptive phrasing lift the text... The universal themes of the story are easy for young readers to relate to and celebrating 'bear-ness' never loses its appeal! Vanya Nastanlieva's illustrations use muted, earthy colours – browns, greys, greens and blues – and plenty of space, evoking the sense of quiet and expansiveness of the Hebridean landscape... A special, soulful book.'
– Armadillo

'A truly delightful book, one to share with anyone who will appreciate the sparse but beautiful use of language, combined with dramatic but heartfelt illustrations.'
– Books for Keeps

'With Louise Greig's gently rhyming text and Vanya Nastanlieva's wonderfully evocative hand-drawn illustrationlól