★ From Peter Bagin, a master children’s author from Russia and recipient of the Silver Medal from the Russian Academy of Arts and an IBBY Honour Award!
★ “Little Bear Cub’s Life in the Forest” is Peter Bagin’s latest work, published in September 2026! His previous titles, “A Forest Journey Through Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter” and “Traces of Forest Animals’ Lives,” have already been licensed for publication in China!
★ One story weaves together an entire forest: This book follows a young bear cub’s first year, from winter to winter, skillfully connecting dozens of forest inhabitants—wolves, lynxes, moose, beavers, badgers, and more. As children accompany the cub through its adventures—birth in a den, its first exploration of the forest, evading predators, and overcoming wildfires and raging currents—they naturally come to understand the entire forest ecosystem.
★ Bagin’s illustrations not only enhance the reading experience but also stand as independent works of art. Each animal portrait is the result of extensive research and creative effort, transcending the boundaries of traditional children’s books!
★ With a warm, friendly, and humorous style, Bagin portrays both the harshness and beauty of the forest. Storytelling and knowledge are seamlessly blended, making the learning process thoroughly enjoyable.
★ A true gift book—perfect for parent–child shared reading and destined to be revisited time and again!

Peter Bagin is an artist, writer, and expert on the habits of animals and birds. In this new book, he recounts the first year in the life of a young bear cub: its birth in a den, the deep bond it forms with its mother, and its first encounters with the harsh realities of forest life. This little hero endures many trials—miraculously escaping the fangs of predators and a devastating forest fire, braving rushing rivers, and summoning every ounce of strength to reach the shore.
This book not only introduces children to a family of bears but also to other forest dwellers: wolves, lynxes, moose, beavers, badgers, hares, owls, cranes, woodcocks, waders, and more. The animals and birds depicted by the author are vivid, charming, and full of life, each with its own distinct personality and behavior. It’s no wonder that Bagin’s works often transcend the boundaries of traditional children’s literature, becoming prized collectibles for connoisseurs. The illustrations not only make the book more engaging but also capture children’s attention, drawing them into the reading experience and turning learning into a joyful adventure.
At its core, this story of a young bear cub’s growth is a miniature encyclopedia of the forest. With deep respect, the author portrays the forest, its animals, and its birds through words and pictures, presenting them in a friendly, warm, and humorous tone. This book makes an excellent gift for children and the whole family. It will appeal not only to younger students but also to parents who wish to spend quality time with their children, enjoying captivating and enriching reading while appreciating the beautiful illustrations.

【Author and Illustrator】Peter Ivanovich Bagin
Peter Bagin (born 1938) is a painter, graphic artist, master illustrator, and a leading figure in children’s book illustration. Born in Ufa, he graduated from the Leningrad School of Graphic Arts in 1958 and from the Art Department of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (animation program) in 1968. He studied under the Russian masters of fairy-tale illustration, Pimenov and Shchaginov. In 1974, he became a member of the Association of Artists “Peter Bagin” (Graphics). He collaborated with the magazine Murzilka for over forty years.
Peter Bagin has a deep love for nature and an acute sensitivity to its animal inhabitants. In creating illustrations for fairy-tale narratives, he developed remarkably precise depictions of animals and birds. Each animal portrait emerged from the author’s painstaking, meticulous research. Batin traveled extensively across northern Russia, Altai, the Urals, and even Wrangel Island, where he made sketches, observed, studied, and memorized his subjects. It was this extensive fieldwork that enabled him to craft such vivid portrayals of nature, endowing each animal and bird with unique character. He has illustrated more than one hundred books, including works based on Pushkin’s tales, Russian folk stories, and poems by Tyutchev, Yesenin, and others.
In 1980, the Tretyakov Gallery (Russia’s national art museum) acquired a selection of illustrations from Bagin’s book Walks in the Arctic Circle, which he both authored and illustrated. The work perfectly showcases his keen observation of nature, the precision of his brushwork, and his studies of the far north. In 2001, Batin was awarded the Silver Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts for his contributions to Russian Fairy Tales and the Irish fairy tale The Magical Dream. In 2004, he received an Honorary Certificate from IBBY, the International Board on Books for Young People. He is also the author of A Forest Journey Through Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter (winner of Russia’s Best Children’s Book Award) and Tracks of Forest Animals.