We asked Bear Heart creators Louise Greig and Hoang Giang what it takes to make a picture book, here’s what they had to say:
Author Louise Greig:
As a picture book author, I am very interested in finding ways to make the intangible tangible. I believe that any abstract concept can be understood by a small child if presented in an accessible, engaging way. Bear Heart is about the abstract concept of love. There is nothing in this world bigger than love. I wanted to tangibly show the endless capacity we all have in our hearts for love.
Children love bears, and thus came along Earnest the bear with his huge, tender, brimming heart. But the question the book asks is: does he have enough room in his heart to make space for a big love in the form of a lost lion? I chose a lion to leap into and tangibly fill up Earnest’s heart, as it seemed the perfect metaphor for bravery. I love how the lion’s golden colour in the book represents warmth and happiness and how the lion makes Earnest’s heart literally purr! Children are never too young for a bit of symbolism and metaphor!
And what happens when that love has to go? Well, that’s when Earnest shows us that any heart that has once held a big love is now even bigger than before.
Illustrator Hoang Giang:
One of the most essential parts of creating Bear Heart was developing Earnest’s character design, as he is the soul of the story. I wanted to portray him as a gentle and kind bear – someone grounded, warm and quietly curious about the world. To find the right visual language for him, I explored many different bear designs, experimenting with various body shapes, fur textures and facial expressions.
In the beginning, I studied bears in their natural poses such as sitting, standing, walking and even sleeping to capture a sense of naturalism. From there, I slowly pushed the shapes toward more stylised and emotionally readable forms. Some early sketches were more realistic, while others leaned into softness and roundness to reflect his gentle nature.
Eventually, with Flying Eye Books, we picked the version we felt truly embodied Earnest – a soft brown bear with a calm presence. But I still felt he needed a little something more: a hint of humour and cuddly charm, like a teddy bear ready to be hugged. So, I added a few final touches to make him slightly more expressive and endearing. And just like that, our Earnest was born!
I hoped this final version of Earnest would carry with him a quiet warmth – one that embraces, accepts and gently holds space for even the heaviest feelings, leading readers through a tender journey of love, loss and the quiet strength it takes to hold a big heart.
Thank you Louise and Giang!
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Bear Heart
By Louise Greig and Hoang Giang
A beautiful picture book for young children about love, friendship and how the things you love make you feel.
Who has a heart big enough to hold a lion?
Earnest is a bear with a big heart. He keeps all his favourite things inside his heart. When Earnest’s heart is full, he feels as though he can do anything! But is his heart big enough to hold a lion? If we make room in our hearts for love, it leaves us feeling better and braver with bigger hearts than ever, even if love has to leave.
Get your copy HERE
