A CREDITON author has released his debut children’s book.

Frank Bristow, from the Mid Devon Town, released his first book called The Bears of Bopplestone - Book 1 with Tails on Thursday (June 30).

The novel follows the lives of talking bears Bertie and Archie. The duo speak English and Bear language and often get mistaken for teddy bears.

Luckily for the little bears, who are also afraid of dogs, Archie already lives with people, so they hatch a plan to make all the little bears happy again. The little bear’s’ lifelong dream is to leave where they live in the mountains of Europe and to be part of the world that people live in.

Mr Bristow said: “While thinking about writing these stories, my wife and I hatched up a plan to develop a language unique to these Little Bears.

“We were having dinner in a hotel in the Canary Islands, and started talking this funny little version of English.

“We ended up in hysterics – what other diners thought, I cannot imagine.

“What children lack so much today is a ‘fairy tale’ part to their childhood, make believe is in fact a part of early education enjoyed and shared by far more than the human race.”

The book was published by Austin Macauley, an independent publisher based in London, and.

Prices range from £3.50 for the e-book or £15.99 for the hardback and are available from http://www.austinmacauley.com/book/bears-bopplestone-book-1-tails.