A NEW book inspired by a young boy from Bolton who died from a brain tumour and his younger sister is set to be released this year.

Baran Akarca, aged eight, died at Derian House Children’s Hospice in January, having had a rare cancer since he was just two-years-old.

He lived in the Morris Green area with mum Annabel, dad Gerrard and two-year-old sister Leyla.

Annabel has shared Baran’s story on Facebook over the last few years, which was noticed by Ffi Jones, a Wales-based children’s author and illustrator.

She was struck by the love between Baran and Leyla, deciding to pen a book celebrating sibling bonding.

'To The Moon and Back' will be a tale celebrating the special love between siblings, with the artwork provided by fellow Welsh illustrator Gareth Jones.

Ffi said: “Annabel is amazing. I have followed Baran’s journey on Facebook for quite a while and during lockdown I set up an enterprise to send personalised stories to ill children in hospitals. I sent Baran and his sister one when he was ill and he had that story when he passed away.

“I have a young child myself and I really felt for them all. The pictures and videos of Baran and Leyla together really touched me.

“This book is all about sibling love and that that love is always there. It will be a picture book and bedtime story inspired by Baran and Leyla but it is for everyone and especially people who have lost a sibling - and how that love carries on.”

Annabel said that the months following Baran’s death have been a “roller coaster of different emotions.”

She said: “These past couple of months since Baran passed has been a roller coaster of different emotions. You never get over losing a child.

"It’s just not what should happen to any parent. We try our best to keep positive and talk about Baran often, sharing our happy memories that we have of him.

“We are so excited about this opportunity and we feel it’s a wonderful way to keep Baran’s memory alive. He was a very special boy, not just to us as his family, but also to all who met him or heard about him.

“And this book gives us such a huge sense of pride. We are so proud of Baran and the impact he has left and this will just show to Leyla how amazing her big brother was and still is.”

The new book is due to be published by Ventorros Press later this year.