Maya the Bear Makes a Friend

Deep in the misty forests of Admiralty Island in Alaska, young Maya the bear loves exploring hidden paths and quiet places. One day, she senses something unusual-someone else is nearby. Through the trees, she spots a little girl, and the girl sees her too. Neither moves. Neither speaks. They simply stare, curious and a little unsure, wondering how this surprising meeting could be happening.

But before they can take a step toward each other... what will happen next? Will the forest stay calm, or will their grown-ups discover them? Will Maya and the girl inch closer, or will something stop them? Discover what happens as their mysterious moment unfolds, and see how one surprising meeting in the forest might grow into a very special friendship.

This book marks the first publication for both Nancy and Lola. Together, they form a unique aunt-and-niece author duo whose adventure began during a 2016 visit to Pack Creek, a special place for bear watching. To keep Lola entertained while watching the bears, they imagined a story about one curious cub. Lola named her Maya-and the character was born. Lola also inspired the little girl on the log with the flower, making their collaboration a heartfelt blend of family, creativity, and shared wonder.