‘Big Bear Hug’ by Nicholas Oldland 

Barney Lom is Reception Class teacher at Columbia Road Primary in Hackney, London. During lockdown, Barney has been recording stories for his pupils in front of the fig tree in his garden.

One of his favourite tales is Big Bear Hug, by Nicholas Oldland, published by Pikku. Barney’s favourite tree is a cherry tree because he climbed one as a child and ate too many, with dire consequences. In spite of this, he has had a lifelong passion for climbing. His favourite meal is Weetabix (he’s been known to eat four after a busy basketball session) and his favourite pastime is throwing himself over the edge of waterfalls in a kayak, which causes his Mum (who works for The Tree Council) enormous palpitations.