Puloma and the Bear

When Puloma runs away from her small village in India, she ends up joining a circus. The circus folk take her in, and in return, she helps them set up and strike camp every few days.

One night she discovers why they always move on so quickly – their secret star attraction is a sloth bear. And it’s illegal to keep a bear in captivity.

Poor Nyla the bear has no claws, few teeth, and is forced to ‘dance’ every night. Can Puloma find a way to help Nyla, and maybe herself too? 

This slim volume has yellow-tinted pages, short chapters and clear font to aid dyslexic readers. The beautiful illustrations by Skylar White show Nyla’s vulnerability and pain, while Jasbinder Bilan’s simple yet powerful words show Puloma’s bravery in standing up for what’s right.

In shining a light on cruel traditions that might still exist in some areas of the world, this is a story to provoke thought, and maybe action.