Lena and the Bear : A heartwarming tale of friendship, freedom and learning to love the wild

Author: Balen, Katya

Picture books

Published on 8 October 2026 by Walker Books Ltd in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 32 pages
277 x 248 x 8 | 408g

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An enchanting tale of unlikely friendship, freedom and learning when to let go – the perfect gift book to treasure for any age.

When Lena finds an injured bear alone in the forest, she takes him home and cares for him. As he recovers, she tells him stories about a wild world and hopes he will want to stay and listen forever. But as the bear grows stronger and longs to return to his own wildness, Lena learns that love sometimes means being brave, and love sometimes means letting go.

From Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen and acclaimed artist Laura Carlin, this deeply moving modern fable celebrates nature, stories, and the wildness within us all – a gorgeous wintry gift book, perfect for fans of Charlie Mackesy, Robert Macfarlane and Nicola Davies.