WACO, Texas, USA – September 4, 2026 – Kathryn Willis has released The Bear Sisters of Baylor, an illustrated children’s book inspired by Judge Indy and Judge Belle, the real American black bears who live at the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Through a warm account of one day in the sisters’ lives, the book gives children a welcoming introduction to the bears, their home, their caretakers, and the importance of friendship, responsible animal care, and wildlife conservation.

The story begins inside Baylor’s green Bear Habitat, where water sparkles in the pond, birds call from the trees, and a soft Texas breeze moves through the leaves. Indy and Belle wake ready for another day of activity. They climb rocks and perches, swim and splash in the water, practice behaviors with their trainers, explore their surroundings, and search for treats placed by their caretakers. Their day is filled with movement and curiosity, but the heart of the book lies in the way they experience each moment together.

Young readers meet the sisters as distinct personalities rather than interchangeable characters. Judge Indy, named after Independence, Texas, is the larger sister and can be recognized by her pure black coat. She enjoys swimming, playing in the water, and doing things independently. Judge Belle, named after the McLane Carillon bells in Pat Neff Hall, is the smaller sister and is recognizable by the lighter hair near her eyes. She enjoys greeting visitors by the fence and uses her left paw to perform Baylor’s familiar “Sic ’em!” behavior.

The narrative follows Indy and Belle through climbing, swimming, training, exploring, eating, resting, and settling down beneath the Texas sky. When Indy calls, “Race you to the water!” Belle runs after her. Later, the two search for hidden treats, practice climbing, rest together in the shade, and watch the sunset. Before they fall asleep, they share a soft bear hug and look forward to more sunshine, splashes, and adventures.

One of the book’s central lines, “Friends are always better together,” captures its emotional focus. The story does not force a lesson onto the reader. Instead, it allows the sisters’ behavior to show how companionship can make ordinary experiences more meaningful. Their closeness gives the book a reassuring rhythm that works especially well for family reading, classroom story time, and conversations with children about kindness and friendship.

The Bear Sisters of Baylor also introduces young readers to the work required to care for animals responsibly. Indy and Belle’s days include enrichment, training, healthy food, exercise, and time to rest. Their carefully designed habitat provides water for swimming, structures for climbing, shaded areas, toys, and places to explore. By presenting these elements as part of the sisters’ daily routine, the book helps children see that animal care involves knowledge, planning, patience, and consistent attention.

The real bears are supported by trained staff, veterinarians, and student caretakers, including members of the Baylor Chamber of Commerce. The book recognizes the students who care for Indy and Belle through early mornings, late nights, hot Texas summers, and cold winter days. Their work includes feeding, training, cleaning, monitoring, and helping maintain an enriching environment. This connection between people and animals gives the story a meaningful educational foundation while honoring a Baylor tradition that dates back to 1914.

Additional pages extend the experience beyond the story. Children can learn that American black bears are the smallest and most common bear species in North America, and that their coats may be black, brown, cinnamon, or even blond. The book explains that black bears are omnivores whose diets can include berries, fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, fish, honey, and small animals. It also shares memorable facts about their climbing ability, swimming, speed, intelligence, curiosity, sense of smell, and winter torpor.

The information is presented in short, approachable sections that invite children to look closely at the illustrations and connect the facts to Indy and Belle’s activities. A child sees the sisters climbing and then learns why strong claws matter. A child watches them enter the water and later discovers that black bears are capable swimmers. The combination of story and factual material encourages observation without interrupting the warmth of the narrative.

The book offers families who have visited Baylor a way to continue that experience at home. Readers who have never seen the habitat can still become familiar with an important part of the university’s identity. The campus setting, the bear habitat, the McLane Carillon bells, the student caretakers, and the “Sic ’em Bears” tradition give the story a clear sense of place. At the same time, its themes of friendship, curiosity, care, and respect for animals reach beyond the Baylor community.

Willis is a Waco native and a Baylor University student majoring in Special Education. She is an active member of the Baylor Chamber of Commerce and serves as a Lead Trainer at the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat. Her work includes helping care for Judge Indy and Judge Belle and supporting their daily health, enrichment, training, and activity. That firsthand connection shapes the book’s specific details and affectionate view of the sisters.

With The Bear Sisters of Baylor, Willis brings together her interest in education, her work with the bears, and her desire to encourage kindness toward animals. The book was created for young readers, but it also recognizes the community of caretakers and supporters who help Indy and Belle thrive. Its illustrations were created with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools under Willis’s art direction, and the content was reviewed and edited by the author.

The result is both a storybook and a keepsake: a cheerful visit with two real bear sisters, an introduction to American black bears, and a tribute to the people who care for Baylor’s live mascots. By the final page, children have spent a full day with Indy and Belle, from the morning breeze to bedtime beneath the stars. They leave with a simple message grounded in the sisters’ shared adventures: caring for animals matters, learning can be joyful, and special moments are even better when they are shared with a friend.

About The Bear Sisters of Baylor

Written by Kathryn Willis, The Bear Sisters of Baylor is an illustrated children’s book featuring Judge Indy and Judge Belle, the real American black bears who live at Baylor University’s Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat in Waco, Texas. The book combines a friendship-centered story with facts about black bears, animal enrichment, conservation, and Baylor’s tradition of caring for its live bear mascots.

About Kathryn Willis

Kathryn Willis is a Waco native, a Baylor University student majoring in Special Education, an active member of the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, and a Lead Trainer at the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat. She helps care for Judge Indy and Judge Belle while sharing their story with visitors and encouraging young readers to value animals, conservation, and kindness.

For more details contact:

Kathryn Willis

Email: kathryn_willis1@baylor.edu

Phone: 254-744-5359

Instagram: @baylorbearhabitat

Baylor Bear Habitat links: linktr.ee/baylorbearhabitat

Follow Judge Indy and Judge Belle online, learn more about the Baylor Bear Habitat, and watch for the release of The Bear Sisters of Baylor.

Media Contact
Company Name: Baylor Bear Habitat
Contact Person: Kathryn Willis
Email: Send Email
City: Waco
State: Texas
Country: United States
Website: linktr.ee/baylorbearhabitat