A great journey teaches Bear that there are more important things than destinations.

Bear wakes up after his long winter’s sleep and joins his friend, Butterfly, on a journey. ‘Where are we going?’ asks Bear. ‘All journeys have secret destinations’, says Butterfly. As they travel through forest, over hill and across a great river, Butterfly offers her wisdom about hardships, facing one’s fears and living in the moment. Bear’s natural impatience gradually softens into acceptance of the world around him.

As the seasons change, the friends find themselves once more in front of Bear’s cave. Landscapes look different with different eyes and the end of one journey is the beginning of another.

This is a heartwarming book about the circles and cycles of life and being. A gentle and inspiring way to introduce Buddhist philosophies and values to young readers.

Sven Volker is a Berlin-based author/illustrator and a professor in graphic design at Potsdam University. His first book, A Million Dots, was a New York Times ‘Best Illustrated Children’s Book’ winner in 2019.

Available to purchase online