Barbara Firth’s touching illustrations of Martin Waddell’s children’s story “Can’t you Sleep Little Bear”, the first of their classic Big and Little Bear series, will be well known to parents and children alike. Now a new series of Collector’s Edition Prints of this well loved story are available to buy, for that perfect ‘special’ present.

Barbara Firth (1928 – 2013) was a childrens book illustrator who achieved success relatively late in life with her rich, warm and evocative illustrations for books such as Martin Waddell’s Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?

Her realisation of Waddell’s touching story of Big Bear helping Little Bear overcome his fear of the dark by bringing him bigger and bigger lanterns, before taking him outside to show him how the moon – the biggest lantern of them all – is always there, touched a chord with parents and children.

Firth created an engaging, rumpled and shambling Big Bear and an enchantingly bright-eyed and eager Little Bear. Their cave is a haven of cosiness and Firth’s illustrations are full of depth and surprise, as well as charm.