The Bear and the Seed
Published on 19. March 2026
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-78741-890-5 (ISBN)
Description
A gorgeously lyrical folktale about the importance of protecting our environment by Greenaway-shortlisted Poonam Mistry.
Bear lives in the bountiful forest, filled with breathtaking flowers and plants, and trees that tower up to the sun. One night, the trees and plants disappear and when the animals wake up, they begin to flee the forest in grief.
But when Bear finds a lonely seed, he works tirelessly to help it grow, seeking words of advice from the few animals that pass by. He shades it from the harsh wind and cold snowy season, but nature's power is unavoidable and soon it is time for him to hibernate. Bear hopes that by the time he wakes up, his determination will help the forest renew.
Bear lives in the bountiful forest, filled with breathtaking flowers and plants, and trees that tower up to the sun. One night, the trees and plants disappear and when the animals wake up, they begin to flee the forest in grief.
But when Bear finds a lonely seed, he works tirelessly to help it grow, seeking words of advice from the few animals that pass by. He shades it from the harsh wind and cold snowy season, but nature's power is unavoidable and soon it is time for him to hibernate. Bear hopes that by the time he wakes up, his determination will help the forest renew.
Reviews / Votes
[An] inspiring picture book, filled with spellbinding geometric art. -- Imogen Russell-Williams * The Guardian * Mistry's exquisitely illustrated read is a gentle, hopeful story about patience, care and renewal. -- Anna Bonet * The i Paper * A beautifully illustrated book which focuses on the forest-living Bear who wakes up to discover his botanical friends have disappeared. -- Aine Toner * The Belfast Telegraph * We adore this gentle message of perseverance, protection and hope for our planet aimed at one to five-year-olds. . . Stunningly illustrated. * The Sunday Post * Mistry incorporates intricate patterns into her animals and landscapes, and uses a colour palette of greens, purples, browns and yellow, making this a uniquely beautiful picture book. -- Charlotte Eyre * The Bookseller * A beautiful combination of folklore and conservation. . . Poonam Mistry shares essential messages through rich patterns, vibrant colours and inspirational storytelling. * Teach Primary * A beautifully inspirational folktale about conservation and protection of nature. The perfect book to celebrate nature and the coming of Spring. With its lavish internal spreads in Poonam's distinctive, inimitable and intricately detailed style, this is an extraordinarily beautiful book. Children will be absolutely entranced by the images, and the gentle lyrical text is a pleasure to read aloud. -- Joy Court * LoveReading4Kids * I love Poonam Mistry's illustrations. . . Her new book, The Bear and the Seed, has a fable-like quality. . . Beautifully written, The Bear and the Seed is an engaging story that gently explores themes of environmental care and the ways small actions can make a difference. -- Alice Ellerby * JUNO Magazine * A very special tale. . . The strong environmental message and gorgeous and intricate Indian-influenced art help this book to stand out. * Storytime Magazine * Marvel at the ethereal beauty and timeless wonder of an exquisite new picture book from Greenaway-shortlisted author and illustrator Poonam Mistry. The Bear and the Seed is a gentle, hopeful and heartwarming fable about protecting and preserving nature's beauty, brought to life by stunning illustrations. * Yorkshire Evening Post * A gorgeously lyrical folktale. * Books for Topics * A very beautiful book in both illustration and message. . . The poignant message about taking care of the Earth is sure to inspire readers to play their part, however small, in looking after the world around them. . . The illustrations are simply stunning, evocative of folklore and traditional tales, giving the book a timeless quality. . . A story to return to again and again! * Through the Bookshelf * It's well worth buying this book for its breathtakingly beautiful, intricately patterned illustrations alone. . . A book to share, discuss and to cherish. * Red Reading Hub * Breathtakingly beautiful. . . uplifting and empowering as it encourages young readers to realise that even small actions can make huge differences. An absolute stunner of a book, we love it. * Mini Travellers * The ecological and environmental messages in this book are clear and heartwarmingly set in a simple story that even the youngest child is likely to respond to. But for me, the star of the show is the artwork. * The Letterpress Project * A beautifully illustrated story with strong environmental themes, this lovely read for very young readers is one that shares with them the importance of taking care of our planet and is perfect for introducing them to the idea of planting seeds and watching them grow. . . a title that is worth taking your time over. * World's Smallest Library *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 3 to 7 years
Dimensions
Height: 302 mm
Width: 225 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
456 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78741-890-5 (9781787418905)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Poonam Mistry is a illustrator based in Leicester. Her style incorporates her love of nature and her Indian roots and explores the relationships between pattern, shapes and colour. Alongside her illustrations, she tells powerful stories that are full of heart and packed with fable-like messages for children to hold onto. Her first book with Templar, The Midnight Panther, was published in 2022 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration in 2024. She has also been shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal three times; in 2019 for her debut picture book, You're Safe with Me, in 2020 for You're Snug with Me and in 2021 for How the Stars Came to Be.