Published
17 August 2026

A Bear Called AH! launches in support of the Ayrshire Hospice

A very special new book by Ayrshire writer Lorraine Johnston has launched today, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Ayrshire Hospice.

A Bear Called AH! tells the story of Alex, who comes home from school to find a bear wearing a label with his initials on it. But isn’t he too old to have a bear?

As the story unfolds, Alex discovers the many bears around him, the people who own and love them, and the surprising story behind each one. Will he give his bear away, or will he discover that you’re never too old to have a bear?

Created with the support of 12 professional artists, each bringing their own unique style to the story, A Bear Called AH! is a colourful gift book designed to appeal to children and grown-ups alike.

Buy A Bear Called AH! online

A story brought to life by 12 artists

Ayrshire Hospice Senior Fundraising Manager Shalane Breen said: “We have been delighted to work closely with Lorraine over the last 10 months and it’s incredibly pleasing to see the finished article.

“It’s a charming story about Alex and we hope our supporters will love it as much as we do. The artists who have supported Lorraine have created some wonderful little characters, and we can’t wait to find out who everyone’s favourite bear is.”

Author Lorraine Johnston said: “Last November I had an idea – not my usual-sized idea for a story, but a very BIG idea!

“This beautiful gift book truly is one of a kind. Instead of being illustrated by one illustrator, it has been created with 12 professional artists, each painting one bear page. The result is a classic, colourful children’s book that will very much appeal to the grown-ups too!

“I am truly grateful to the 12 artists who have become ‘Team Bear’, to my friend Ann Robin for her ‘Shelf of Bears’, and to Roddy Martine for writing such a wonderful foreword. I’d also like to express my huge thanks to the ‘Village of Kindness’ that has surrounded and supported this project.

“We are all incredibly proud of A Bear Called AH! and delighted to be gifting our time and work so that 100% of the proceeds go to the Ayrshire Hospice, a wonderful organisation which provides such an amazing and vital service to our community.”

A Bear Called AH! by Lorraine Johnston – cover illustrated by Paul Kennedy
Snowy, the Lost and Found Bear – illustrated by Lewis Mackenzie
Baby Bear – illustrated by Peter Foyle
Pandy the Panda Bear – illustrated by Margaret Johnston
Midge the Fishing Bear – illustrated by Yvonne Taylor
Pierre-Loup and the Teddy Bears’ Picnic – illustrated by Jacqueline Orr
Teddington the Barn Owl Bear – illustrated by Vanessa Lawrence
Christopher’s Memory Bear – illustrated by Lynn Howarth
Saffron the Musical Bear – illustrated by Madhumati Manda
Mina the Messenger Bear – illustrated by Ewan McClure
Florence, the Washing-Line Bear – illustrated by Kath Pender
Jock’s ‘Stinky Bear!’ – illustrated by Jan Ferguson
The Bear Called AH! – illustrated by Paul Kennedy

Meet ‘Team Bear’

Twelve professional artists have each brought one of the book’s bears to life in their own distinctive style:

Jan Ferguson – Jock’s ‘Stinky Bear!’
Peter Foyle – the Baby Bear
Lynn Howarth – Christopher’s Memory Bear
Margaret Johnston – Pandy the Panda Bear
Paul Kennedy – the Bear Called AH! (front cover and last page)
Vanessa Lawrence – Teddington the Barn Owl Bear
Lewis Mackenzie – Snowy, the Lost and Found Bear
Madhumati Manda – Saffron the Musical Bear
Ewan McClure – Mina the Messenger Bear
Jacqueline Orr – Pierre-Loup and the Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Kath Pender – the Washing-Line Bear
Yvonne Taylor – Midge the Fishing Bear

Special thanks also go to Ann Robin, who painted the ‘Shelf of Bears’.

The book features a foreword by author, journalist and broadcaster Roddy Martine, was designed by Richard Longmuir, Creative Director at Launch Digital, and printed by Brown Brothers Printers.