The Bear and the Seed
Poonam Mistry
Templar Books

Poonam’s latest book has an environmental theme and is a neo folk tale with a little bear as the main character. Bear lives in a large, dense forest with an abundance of stunning flowers and plants admired by the creatures from near and far who come to appreciate its beauty. One day though, all the flora of this forest vanishes and the creatures start to leave too. Not so Bear despite his grief, for he discovers a single tiny seed in a tuft of grass and he undertakes to keep it safe and help it grow. Having planted it in the ground he pokes it around but nothing happens except Worm pops its head up and when asked, offers some advice to the planter. Bear follows the advice but still nothing seems to happen. This is only the first animal that Bear asks for advice; then come Frog,

Bird and Fox; he even seeks help from the stars. Eventually one morning as the sun appears so does a tiny sprout from the seed. Bear guards and nurtures the little plant night and day but with the coming of winter’s cold, Bear begins to tire and eventually it’s time for him to hibernate. He falls into a deep sleep for several months until spring arrives and joy of joys, when he opens his eyes once more, there stands a sapling with branches reaching out into the sky. Time passes and eventually the tree produces seeds of its own bringing with them hope that Bear’s efforts will mean that a forest will once again return.

It’s well worth buying this book for its breathtakingly beautiful, intricately patterned illustrations alone. I loved exploring all the mandala-like designs and various shapes that make up the scenes large and small, and the patterns surrounding many parts of the text.

A book to share, discuss and to cherish.