The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour

The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour by Beck & Robin Feiner (ABC Books) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780733339400

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

No one seemed to notice The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour except a little girl named Hannah. She knew something wasn’t right. ‘Sydney is Down Under, and polar bears are from, well, Up Over.’ Everyone in Sydney seemed too busy to care, invested in only themselves. The narrative follows this unlikely duo and the quest to return the polar bear home.

The bold illustrations are gorgeous and depict plenty of Sydney’s iconic landmarks. The prelude and epilogue to the story are captured visually in the delightful endpapers, tracking the polar bear’s journey.

The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour is an engaging picture book highly recommended for children aged 5+ years. Its themes include empathy, compassion, empowerment, persistence and speaking up for those without a voice. Importantly, the Polar Bear can be viewed as a metaphor for climate change, and the story highlighting the myriad of people ignoring it. This narrative provides a subtle lesson to stand up for what is right, not what is easy. Everyone is able to make a difference, no matter how old you are.

If you enjoyed this book you may also like If I Was Prime Minister, created by the same talented husband and wife team.