Lost by Mariajo Ilustrajo (author)

Winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize for Illustration 2023 Shortlisted for Illustrator of the Year – British Book Awards 2025

A new book from award-winning illustrator Mariajo Ilustrajo, Lost is the story of a polar bear who finds himself lost, in a big concrete city.

He politely asks the city folk for help but everyone is much too busy and impatient to help the newcomer. He finds himself travelling on the subway only to be noticed, finally by a little girl.

The girl takes the homesick bear by the paw and under her innocent wing. Under the nose of her seemingly unaware mum, she feeds him dinner, gives him a bath and they read stories together.

When the polar bear wistfully looks at a poster of the North Pole on her bedroom wall, the little girl realises that her friend needs help to get home.

This is a story about the power friendship has to help you feel found, and even to transport you home.