The Polar Bears’ Journey

By Tuula Pere

April 22^nd, 2023

The Polar Bears' Journey

Nanu the polar bear cub is worried. His ice slide is shrinking day by day. Mom and Grandma are worried about their home glacier—it’s melting too. And Father Bear has been gone for days on a hunting trip.

Driven by the melting ice floes, Mom and Nanu set out on a journey to find a new home. A friendly tern accompanies them as their pathfinder. But the journey is long and tiring, and ice is melting all around them. Will the polar bear family ever be reunited?

Story by Tuula Pere

Illustrations by Roksolana Panchysnyn

Published by Wickwick 2018

40 pages (29 numbered pages)

Literary Titan Book Award

"The Polar Bears’ Journey is a thought-provoking story about leaving your home and heading off for lands unknown. Immigration and the plight of refugees is a hard topic to explain to small children and this brilliant story explains it in a way that they will understand. Parents and teachers will find this exceptional picture book a useful tool when covering current events and in teaching empathy. The themes of survival and hope will stay with those that read this encouraging story"

–Literary Titan

"The Polar Bears' Journey is another moving and emotional children's book by Tuula Pere that addresses two major issues: the withering away of a specie's natural habitat and parental love (particularly maternal love).

This book does seem to end on a hopeful and optimistic note. Teachers and parents may be able to talk to children about some of the issues this book explores. As mentioned, it's also a powerful story about a mother's love as the mother bear is constantly sacrificing to feed and take care of Nanu, even offering to let him ride on her back when he's tired of swimming and to let him eat the only fish. It's also a powerful illustration of a father's love, although he's not physically present much in the book. That's kind of the point. The father bear loved his family so much that he was willing to risk his life, comfort, and safety to find them food every day. That's a lot like what parents go through in real life. Parents are constantly giving up their own time, energy, and comfort for their children. So, there's a lot of beauty to be found in this book."

–Outstanding Creator Awards

Other Languages

Jääkarhujen matka (Finnish)

Jääkarhunpentu Nanu ihmettelee, miksi hänen liukumäkensä kutistuu päivä päivältä. Emoa ja mummia huolettavat kotijäätikön haurastuvat reunat ja se, että isä karhu viipyy päiväkausia saalistusmatkallaan.

Jäälautat hupenevat, ja emo ja Nanu lähtevät etsimään uutta kotia. Heillä on tähystäjänään ystävällinen tiira. Linnun neuvot ja kannustus ovatkin tarpeen, kun yö yllättää väsyneet uimarit.

Isbjörnarnas resa (Swedish)

Isbjörnsungen Nanu förundrar sig över varför hans rutschkana krymper för var dag som går. Mamma och famo oroar sig över glaciärens allt skörare kanter och det att pappa björn dröjer många dagar på sin jaktfärd.

Isflaken minskar, och mamman och Nanu ger sig av för att söka ett nytt hem. Den vänliga tärnan är deras vägvisare. Fågelns råd och uppmuntran behövs då natten överraskar de trötta simmarna.

ध्रुवीय भालू की यात्रा (Hindi)

नानू ,एक ध्रुवीय भालू का शावक चिंतित है। उसकी बर्फ की फिसलपट्टी दिन प्रति दिन सिकुड़ती जा रही है। माँ और दादी अपने घर यानी ग्लेशियर के बारे में चिंतित हैं - यह भी पिघल रहा है। और उसके पापा भालू कुछ दिनों से शिकार पर गए हैं।

बर्फ के पिघलने से प्रेरित होकर, माँ और नानू एक नया घर खोजने के लिए यात्रा पर निकले। एक दरियाई अबाबील उन्हें रास्ता ढूंढने में मदद करता है। लेकिन यात्रा लंबी और थका देने वाली है, और चारों तरफ बर्फ पिघल रही है। क्या ध्रुवीय भालू परिवार कभी फिर से मिल पाएगा?