Beloved Pooh Illustrator's Heartwarming Final Tale Lights Up World Book Day

Peter Lawson was a well-known author and illustrator from Cardiff who spent 35 years creating art for children's books. He worked on famous stories like Thomas the Tank Engine and Winnie the Pooh, and also drew characters for Fireman Sam, Postman Pat, Dora the Explorer, and Barbie. Peter was loved for his gentle style and the way he made children feel safe and happy through his stories and pictures.

In 2023, Peter passed away after fighting bowel cancer for almost two years. During his illness, he wrote his final book, On Big Bear's Shoulders. This book was published after his death, on World Book Day, to help raise money for Ty Hafan, a children's hospice in Wales. Peter believed that children and hospice should never be in the same sentence, and he wanted to bring comfort to children who were unwell. His daughter, Thea, said that if even one child reads the book and feels less afraid or forgets about being sick for a while, then her father's dream has come true.

On Big Bear's Shoulders is a story about comfort and safety. It tells children that even when things are hard, someone is there to hold them and help them feel safe. Peter did not want the story to focus on illness or sadness. Instead, he wanted it to be about hope and being cared for. Thea, who works in a hospital, said that her father's book is about the kind of care that is not medical, but emotional. Peter had supported Ty Hafan for many years, even riding his bike from Cardiff to Scotland to raise money for the hospice before he became ill. Thea believes that her father's stories will continue to help families for many years, and that is a beautiful legacy to leave behind.