Former teacher Katie Why, now living in Sunderland, has published her debut children's book, Bear and Friends To The Rescue, the first in a new series of children's adventures. The book, released in September 2026, follows a little bear and his friends Deer, Duck and Rabbit as they learn the power of working together, kindness, courage and friendship.
Katie said: “I loved sharing stories as a teacher that had an underlying message for children to discover and enjoy. I wanted to create a book that captured the charm and familiarity of traditional children’s stories, with timeless characters and a meaningful message at its heart.”
A Story of Teamwork and Kindness
The book is aimed at children aged between three and seven years old and follows the story of the little bear and his friends as they work together to rescue a deer trapped in a cave. The story is told in a gentle rhythmic cadence designed to be an easy and enjoyable read aloud for the whole family.
With more than ten years’ teaching experience in UK and international schools, Katie saw first-hand how rhyming books with a strong rhythm can build a child’s confidence and make reading easier. She said: “When reading children’s books with rhymes, they always remember the words and after a few times you can stop and they will shout out the words.”
From Teacher to Author
A lifelong lover of poetry and short stories, she found that writing a children’s book was a natural way to bring her passions together. Becoming a mum gave her ambition fresh momentum. She said: “Reading to my own daughter has brought an even greater appreciation for the magic of books. Watching her develop her own love of reading has been a real joy and has inspired me to create a story that children and their families can share and enjoy together.”
Alongside the Amazon sales, Katie has shared her book with friends who are still teachers who have brought Bear and his friends to their classrooms and even took Bear to nursery with her own daughter, where he has been met with lots of positive reviews. For Katie, the message of kindness is the most important part of the story as she wants it to open up discussions between children. She said: “It's making children think about their actions, not just towards your friends but others as well.”
Illustrations and Future Plans
Katie, originally from Manchester, teamed up with Manchester-based illustrator Andy Rowaland, who has more than 20 years’ experience creating artwork for children’s books, community arts projects and murals. Andy brought the characters to life, blending traditional aesthetics with a contemporary twist for a timeless feel. Andy said: “It has been a pleasure getting to know Katie. I have enjoyed sharing ideas and developing illustrations to bring out each character’s individual personality in a fun way, to help the story come to life and capture the spirit of friendship and teamwork.”
The book has already been warmly received and a colouring book is due to follow in the new year. The debut novel will also be translated into French, German and Italian in 2027, with a second Bear and Friends adventure planned for summer 2027. Bear and Friends To The Rescue can be purchased on Amazon.
