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The Last Bear #3.5
Bear Rescue: World Book Day 2026
Join April Wood on a thrilling Arctic adventure set in the world of the THE LAST BEAR, FINDING BEAR and THE LONE HUSKY.
August Wood lives in the far north of the Arctic. His best friend is a husky called Blaze, and he’s the younger brother of April Wood – the girl who once famously rescued a polar bear.
But one summer’s day, when a sudden snowstorm strikes, August goes missing. With temperatures plummeting, it’s up to April, Bear and Blaze to track him down and bring him safely home … before it's too late.
A stunning, snow-filled adventure for animal lovers of all ages, Bear Rescue is perfect for readers who are new to Hannah Gold's iconic stories as well as existing fans.
'Deeply moving, quite unforgettable' Michael Morpurgo on The Last Bear
August Wood lives in the far north of the Arctic. His best friend is a husky called Blaze, and he’s the younger brother of April Wood – the girl who once famously rescued a polar bear.
But one summer’s day, when a sudden snowstorm strikes, August goes missing. With temperatures plummeting, it’s up to April, Bear and Blaze to track him down and bring him safely home … before it's too late.
A stunning, snow-filled adventure for animal lovers of all ages, Bear Rescue is perfect for readers who are new to Hannah Gold's iconic stories as well as existing fans.
'Deeply moving, quite unforgettable' Michael Morpurgo on The Last Bear
Audible Audio
Published February 12, 2026
6 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Gold
8 books377 followersHannah Gold worked in the film and magazine industries before taking time out to pursue her dream of writing. She lives in Lincolnshire with her tortoise, her cat and her husband. This is her middle grade debut.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 22, 2026
A short story from the Bear series of Hannah Gold. April is friends with a polar bear whom she has saved in the past and who saved her as well.
April’s father is planning to propose to his girlfriend, so a trip to a friend’s country cabin seems to be the perfect occasion for it. However, their toddler goes missing outdoors in the snow and the family & friends need to find him soon.
This is a World Book Day 2026, a short story aimed at a middle grade audience. I’m now quite curious to read Hannah Gold’s other books.
What a pity that the back blurb of this one seems written by someone who didn’t really read the book!
April’s father is planning to propose to his girlfriend, so a trip to a friend’s country cabin seems to be the perfect occasion for it. However, their toddler goes missing outdoors in the snow and the family & friends need to find him soon.
This is a World Book Day 2026, a short story aimed at a middle grade audience. I’m now quite curious to read Hannah Gold’s other books.
What a pity that the back blurb of this one seems written by someone who didn’t really read the book!
February 17, 2026
Loved to be back with my favorite book characters, April and Bear! I love the concept of world book day books. Thin, engaging and encouraging young people to read. Which better characters to have for that are an adventure with April and Bear! I loved it.
February 18, 2026
April's dad is ready to propose to his girlfriend, but he's very nervous about doing it. April decides she'd like to help. Dad stresses again and again about being careful and not to lose the engagement ring, which April brushes off. He should know how responsible she is.
Unfortunately for April, her best efforts to keep the ring safe never thought to include her very best animal friend, Bear.
A surprise visit is a wonderful treat for April, but she and the family are soon swept up in a terrifying mystery. While April, Bear and her favourite husky sled dog Blaze are outside in the snow, something has happened back at her friend Hedda's cabin.
It was supposed to be a special occasion, but April's baby brother August has vanished. A snow storm is descending on them and they've searched everywhere. Where can a crawling baby be?
Released as No. 3.5 in The Last Bear series, Bear Rescue is a World Book Day 2026 book. At only 96 pages instead of the usual 300 or so in the other books in the series, it's a much quicker read.
Despite the length, Bear Rescue is still long enough to capture readers with Bear's return, a missing item, and then scarily, April's missing baby brother.
As a lover of this series devoted to the Arctic, the environment and the changes within it, Bear Rescue is a wonderful addition - taking the reader further in April's family life with a new baby brother, and all her friends and family, both furry and human.
Author - Hannah Gold
Illustrator - Levi Pinfold
Age - 8+
Unfortunately for April, her best efforts to keep the ring safe never thought to include her very best animal friend, Bear.
A surprise visit is a wonderful treat for April, but she and the family are soon swept up in a terrifying mystery. While April, Bear and her favourite husky sled dog Blaze are outside in the snow, something has happened back at her friend Hedda's cabin.
It was supposed to be a special occasion, but April's baby brother August has vanished. A snow storm is descending on them and they've searched everywhere. Where can a crawling baby be?
Released as No. 3.5 in The Last Bear series, Bear Rescue is a World Book Day 2026 book. At only 96 pages instead of the usual 300 or so in the other books in the series, it's a much quicker read.
Despite the length, Bear Rescue is still long enough to capture readers with Bear's return, a missing item, and then scarily, April's missing baby brother.
As a lover of this series devoted to the Arctic, the environment and the changes within it, Bear Rescue is a wonderful addition - taking the reader further in April's family life with a new baby brother, and all her friends and family, both furry and human.
Author - Hannah Gold
Illustrator - Levi Pinfold
Age - 8+
February 19, 2026
World Book Day 2026 features a short story by popular child author, Hannah Gold. In Bear Rescue she continues her story of April, a young girl and her unlikely best friend Bear the polar bear. This flash fiction does well to explain their living conditions in the Arctic and her friendship with Bear without revealing to much about her series in this short segment. We learn that April lives with her baby younger brother, August and her dad who is hoping to propose to his partner. April has been left in charge of the ring, and is determined to keep it safe. But in a matter of moments, both the ring and August go missing in this dangerous setting and April requires the help of her furry friends to find them both. Bear Rescue is a sweet tale which does well to advertise her series to new readers while providing a new mini plot to reward long term readers. We see exciting husky sled rides, terrifying mountain climbing and the joy of witnessing Bear and April’s connection.
February 15, 2026
It was cute and simple, but it works. I still love these characters (especially April and Bear, of course) and even if this is just a small adventure, it's still a solid story that kept me engaged (pun intended) throughout.
If I do have a complaint, it's that August's parents are really irresponsible leaving their baby alone with a dog. I get it, Blaze is best friends with August and probably would never harm him, but it's still a very bad example to set for the young and impressionable readers of this book. Never, ever leave your baby unattended with an animal no matter how much you think the animal would never harm the child, you never know what might happen.
If I do have a complaint, it's that August's parents are really irresponsible leaving their baby alone with a dog. I get it, Blaze is best friends with August and probably would never harm him, but it's still a very bad example to set for the young and impressionable readers of this book. Never, ever leave your baby unattended with an animal no matter how much you think the animal would never harm the child, you never know what might happen.
February 18, 2026
Loved being back in this world with these wonderful characters. A short story featuring April and all her family and friends, human and animal alike.
A gripping adventure in the beautifully described frozen landscape.
Stunning illustrations by Levi Pinfold as always.
A gripping adventure in the beautifully described frozen landscape.
Stunning illustrations by Levi Pinfold as always.
February 22, 2026
reading the series now.
February 22, 2026
A brilliant World Book Day book from the amazing Hannah Gold! This short read is a perfect introduction for those who've yet to read previous books in the series. It also continues the story for existing fans of April and Bear. I wholeheartedly recommend this read for World Book Day!
My full review: www.ryanmizzen.com/bear-rescue-by-han...
My full review: www.ryanmizzen.com/bear-rescue-by-han...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews