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Lost by Mariajo Ilustrajo

Book Synopsis

Winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize for Illustration 2023

A new book from award-winning illustrator Mariajo Ilustrajo, Lost is the story of a polar bear who finds himself lost, in a big concrete city.

He politely asks the city folk for help but everyone is much too busy and impatient to help the newcomer. He finds himself travelling on the subway only to be noticed, finally by a little girl.

The girl takes the homesick bear by the paw and under her innocent wing. Under the nose of her seemingly unaware mum, she feeds him dinner, gives him a bath and they read stories together.

When the polar bear wistfully looks at a poster of the North Pole on her bedroom wall, the little girl realises that her friend needs help to get home.

This is a story about the power friendship has to help you feel found, and even to transport you home.

Our Review Panel says...

Lost is a charming book about friendship and kindness.

Bear finds himself lost in a concrete city and despite asking for help from everyone he meets, he is constantly ignored as they are all too busy to help. Finally a little girl notices and decides to try and help. She takes him home and feeds him, bathes him and they read stories, without her mum seeming to notice, which adds an interesting layer to the tale. When he gazes at a poster about the North Pole, she finally realises that he is homesick and despite wanting him to stay, she resolves to help him get home, in a creative way!

Beautifully illustrated and with bursts of humour throughout such as the bear wearing a tutu and finding how hot a pizza is, this is a positive story for parents, classrooms and libraries to share with early years and KS1 about exploring how we can all feel lost occasionally, the power of friendship and the importance of helping others.